Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal for a CUE in the December 1988 decision denying service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for residuals of a left leg injury and tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was not well-grounded and denied it. For his increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss, the evidence showed current disability but did not establish a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and syneresis of the eyes. A 10 percent rating is assigned for residuals of a dislocation of the left fifth finger.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and for issuance of a Statement of the Case on service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports a grant of benefits. The Board determined that the veteran sustained acoustic trauma during his military service in World War II, which resulted in current sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of migraine headaches, right foot bursitis, defective hearing, tinnitus, left knee injury residuals, plantar fasciitis, or depression.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a rating prior to January 20, 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and there is no further duty to assist in developing facts pertinent to these claims. The abdominal disorder was incurred in service, but the residuals of a nose fracture do not warrant an increased evaluation.