Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 9, 1998 for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural deafness and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 28, 1997 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were not well-grounded. The RO denied these claims, but the Board finds a remand is necessary to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran has an employment handicap and meets the criteria for basic entitlement to vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for his back injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and scar from the excision of a wart on his right hand. The decision is final as it does not address any issues related to service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD, a skin condition due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also noted that the veteran had not perfected an appeal of his claim for diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to February 25, 1998 more closely approximated a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and service connection for tinnitus is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with the highest available schedular ratings being assigned.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, low back pain, and peripheral neuropathy (due to exposure to herbicides) were granted. The claim for a right shoulder disorder was not claimed. No rating assigned as the issue is still pending.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum allowable rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated as the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The RO has not found that these conditions warrant a higher rating based on their current severity.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral tinnitus, lung disability, and stomach disability are all service-connected.

The veteran's claims regarding the February 17, 1987 rating decision were denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in assigning a 20 percent evaluation for intervertebral disc syndrome. The issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was not addressed due to lack of formal or informal claim prior to February 17, 1994. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus could not be earlier than February 17, 1994.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining his specific dates of active duty in the Ohio Air National Guard.

The Board has granted service connection for several conditions, including right eye injury and sinusitis. However, the claims for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, and lacerations of the left cheek were denied as not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus in November 1999. The RO granted the reopened claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus with an effective date of March 13, 2000.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal as his Substantive Appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective June 10, 2001. The veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.