Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and an audiologic examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision states there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's currently diagnosed Meniere's disease to his service-connected tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and a left foot disorder were both addressed. The claim for bilateral tinnitus was denied, while the claim for a left foot disorder (diagnosed as compression neuropathy) was granted.

The Board found that the appellant's postoperative vocal cord polyp, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected septectomy for deviated nasal septum.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, malunion of the mandible with temporomandibular joint dysfunction, a laceration scar of the left ear, and dental trauma for compensation purposes. The Board found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic prostatitis due to a lack of competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his period of active service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against granting higher ratings or service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a sprained right ankle with traumatic arthritis.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as he has worked in the past and is able to hear with his current hearing aids. The Board finds that the veteran is not unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal disorder. The appeals for an undiagnosed illness manifested by dizziness and aching joints were not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are not well-grounded, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board determined that the veteran's substantive appeal of the March 1994 rating decision was not timely filed, and thus did not have jurisdiction to review the merits of the claim. The claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, a skin disorder (including itching over the entire body), and alcohol abuse were reopened based on new and material evidence submitted by the veteran. However, the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and infertility remain denied as they are not supported by competent medical evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral defective hearing are well grounded. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, further examination is required.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, headaches, and tinnitus are well-grounded. However, due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein, the claims have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not constitute material to reopen the claim for hearing loss and that the claim for tinnitus was not well-grounded.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking any service-connected disability or incident to his death.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to November 30, 1992 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's claim was not filed within one year after his discharge from active service and no informal claim for tinnitus was found prior to November 30, 1993.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO must now provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus was denied prior to June 10, 1999. From June 10, 1999, the veteran is granted a 10% rating for his tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as his claims are not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to an incident of service.