Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus are granted. The Board found that the veteran experienced combat during his service in Vietnam, which supports a finding of service connection for PTSD. For tinnitus, the Board concluded that it is likely related to acoustic trauma sustained during an RPG attack while serving in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The skin disorder claim is pending.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The BVA found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any current disabilities and active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The evidence submitted since the November 1997 RO decision is sufficient to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating schedule. The issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's tinnitus from noncompensable to 10 percent, while denying any increase in his right ear hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability.

The veteran was entitled to a 100% rating for his service-connected disabilities, which included tinnitus. As the appellant was married to the veteran for the entire period in question, enhanced DIC benefits are granted.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on military service prior to March 1989. The claims for tinnitus and residuals of a perforated right eardrum are being remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for GERD has been granted, effective from March 23, 2000. The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected GERD does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's effective date for additional compensation for a dependent spouse is set to August 27, 1993, with the commencement of payment on September 1, 1993. This decision grants his claim based on the criteria that the earliest possible effective date aligns with the date of his increased disability rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and therefore denied this claim. The hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, PTSD, ocular disability, diarrhea, sinus problems, skin rashes, joint pains, nerve problems in the legs, leg cramps, burning feet, paralysis of the left side of the face, left hand and wrist injury, headaches, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that these conditions did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and increased the rating for postoperative, recurrent, maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis to 10 percent disabling. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of avulsion fracture, left ulna, with traumatic arthritis and bone deformity remains in controversy as it has not been addressed by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting their claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, tinnitus, residuals of left shoulder injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted.