Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the claims for tinnitus and an increased rating for PTSD.

The veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss with tinnitus have been granted increased ratings, effective June 10, 2023. The tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, while the hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, so a total rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's tinnitus, finding that it is related to his inservice noise exposure and resolving all doubts in favor of the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's overpayment of disability compensation benefits should be waived for a portion covering December 1, 1994, through March 31, 1998. However, recovery is denied for the period from October 1, 1994, through November 31, 1994.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted as there is medical evidence showing a nexus between the left upper extremity disability and VA surgery in June 1986.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his tinnitus claim and for an increased rating for his tension headaches, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the tinnitus claim and that the current 10 percent evaluation for tension headaches is appropriate.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been granted. Service connection has been established for residuals of a right shoulder injury, tinnitus, and left knee disorder. The veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation for his compression fracture at L1.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent.

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 conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and manifestations of undiagnosed illnesses, were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not submit well-grounded claims for these issues.

The Board has determined that the case must be returned to the RO for further development and consideration, including considering extraschedular evaluation for tinnitus and determining whether timely notices of disagreement were filed regarding effective dates.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are due to exposure to loud noises from guns during service. The claim for otitis media of the left ear is not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation under either the old or new criteria, and his tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. Therefore, both issues are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and vision loss are not well grounded. As such, these claims cannot be granted.

The veteran's organic brain syndrome was granted a 30% rating effective March 18, 1998. His radiation retinopathy of the right eye remains at a 10% rating and his hearing loss with tinnitus does not have an assigned rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left inguinal orchiotomy and tinnitus were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection for hepatitis C was not well grounded as there is no evidence of its occurrence in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his period of active service, with aggravation occurring in service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and atherosclerotic heart disease are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a nexus between any in-service events and these conditions.