Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and vertigo, as well as his requests for increased ratings for his hearing loss and left ear pain. The temporary total disability ratings based on hospitalizations in 1994 and 1995 were granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder disability was incurred during his period of active duty. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not well grounded.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is well-grounded and sufficient to establish service connection. The evidence shows back pain in service, continued treatment post-service, and diagnosis of lumbar paraspinal muscular strain and spasm.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to November 24, 1997 for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking current tinnitus to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disability, residuals of bilateral shoulder surgeries, a psychiatric disability, and a jaw disability (including basal cell carcinoma) are not well grounded. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, with a rating of 10% for tinnitus. The veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as Level VI in both ears.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1, finding that it was incurred during active duty. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence showing current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for the post-operative residuals of a left tibial fracture. The effective date for the separate 10% rating for the scar on the left lower extremity with recurrent cellulitis is set at September 17, 1992.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest schedular evaluation (100%) since May 1998, and his tinnitus is also rated at its maximum schedular evaluation (10%). The dermatitis of the left foot and onychomycosis of the left great toe are currently rated at zero percent.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and burn scar of the right hand were denied as there was no evidence to support higher evaluations based on current medical findings.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the July 1991 decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss of the right ear are all service-connected. The decision grants these claims.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 21, 1995 for a grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with endolymphatic hydrops, bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus were denied as they are not well-grounded.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability, effective from the date of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and tinnitus.