Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The veteran's tinnitus, headaches, bilateral hearing loss and perforated tympanic membrane have been granted a 10 percent evaluation each.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, while Meniere's disease is not shown to be service-connected. The veteran's current conditions have been granted as well.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is addressed in the Remand portion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of June 4, 1974. The Board found that the veteran had a reasonable expectation to have his claim for tinnitus considered in 1974.

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 medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus to his service, including combat-related noise exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with peptic esophagitis. The veteran is found to have a current disability related to his in-service exposure to noise trauma, which supports his claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. For gastroesophageal reflux disease with peptic esophagitis, the Board finds that while there are medical records indicating a diagnosis of this condition, it was not directly related to service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1985 rating decision that denied a compensable disability rating for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the request to reopen the claim for service connection for otitis media with subsequent hearing loss and tinnitus of the left ear and hearing loss of the right ear.

The veteran's claims of service connection for various injuries and disabilities were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service tinnitus or hearing loss, and that his current conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his hearing loss and tinnitus were not well grounded and that his left foot disability was rated appropriately.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not well-grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his service. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to appear for a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling another hearing.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and also denied an increased rating for his service-connected tinnitus.

The veteran received a schedular maximum rating of 30 percent for residuals of mastoidectomy with vertigo and tinnitus from October 23, 1992 to June 9, 1999.,From June 10, 1999, the veteran's vertigo as a residual of mastoidectomy was rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 6204 and left ear tinnitus was rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed back disorder, headaches, tinnitus, and COPD. The claim for allergic rhinitis was also denied as new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen it.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his various disabilities, finding that he is not in need of such assistance.