Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, malignant melanoma of the left shoulder, basal cell carcinoma of the face, skin rash (acne), abdominal disorder (diverticulitis), headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of right nephrectomy, cyst of the liver and gallbladder, tingling of the lower extremities, a disorder of the left eyelid with associated loss of vision, residuals of stress fractures of the left tibia and ribs, and chest pain. The ratings for these conditions have not been assigned yet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, a heart disorder, tinnitus, loss of equilibrium, eye infections, glaucoma, and prostate disorder are denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service or due to exposure to radiation.

The Board found no competent evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, leading to denial of all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for neurological disabilities of both hands, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD. The increased disability evaluations for posttraumatic stress disorder and duodenal ulcer were also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for deformity of the duodenal cap, tinnitus, perforated left tympanic membrane, and bilateral hearing loss. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board dismissed the claim for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits due to both the veteran and his attorney having died, and there being no PDBs available.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a hearing disorder, including tinnitus. The evidence submitted by the veteran is sufficient to establish that he currently suffers from this condition and that it may be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for athlete's foot, tinea cruris, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as they were not well-grounded based on lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the appellant's current hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease, or right knee disability to his military service. The claim for a back disability was reopened due to new and material evidence but the claim remains denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that neither condition warranted a rating higher than noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and he meets the criteria for service connection. The hearing loss and tinnitus claims are not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an ulcer as secondary to the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the January 1991 rating decision denying service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was not well grounded and denied it. The issue of sinusitis is still pending as the RO has not obtained all relevant treatment records from the Birmingham VA Medical Center.

The Board found that the veteran's Meniere's disease, including vertigo and tinnitus, is not related to service-connected disability. The tinnitus was determined to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The RO denied higher initial evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lower lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a fracture of the ulna, and hemorrhoids. The claims for sinusitis, stomach disorder, labyrinthitis, otitis media, right wrist disorder, and lung disorder with sleep disturbances are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis is due to disease or injury incurred in service and grants this claim. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they do not meet the criteria for well-groundedness.