Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 27, 1998, for a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus as there was no valid application submitted within one year of the October 1995 letter.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches and hearing loss as residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, and residuals of a head injury. The decisions were final due to lack of appeal or extension of time.

The VA determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a right knee disorder, and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The decision is based on the current state of the law at the time of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a right vestibular nerve resection due to recurrent Meniere's disease is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that a VA audiologist should be provided to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar back disorder are all related to his service. The evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure leading to hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an inservice low back injury resulting in a current disability.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for low back strain, a 10% rating for left ear hearing loss, and a 10% rating for tinnitus. The veteran's conditions are all rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as it does not result in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect or difficulty understanding complex commands.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and shoulder disorders, headaches, tinnitus, and a low back disorder. The claim for increased rating of chondromalacia of the right knee was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and headaches and tinnitus secondary to head trauma.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a finding of in-service onset. The claims are granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service stressor.

The veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied, and his claim for an increased disability evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to additional SMC by reason of need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than loss of use of both feet.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal before a decision could be made by the Board.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to an increased evaluation for keloid scar of the left ear have been granted. Service connection for hearing loss is pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.