Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran's tinnitus and COPD have been granted service connection, with the VA assigning a 30 percent evaluation for COPD as of December 14, 1994. The hearing loss claim is pending.

The veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his service and service-connected bilateral hearing loss, granting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and a sleep disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder has also been remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for degenerative disk changes of the lumbar spine, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and right ankle disorder were also denied.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The veteran's right ear tinnitus is associated with his service-connected right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and thus secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not increase in severity during his period of active duty, and thus he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility due to failure to meet one of the elements required under 38 C.F.R. § 17.120, specifically that VA facilities were feasibly available and a medical emergency did not exist.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating remains pending.,For his tinnitus, an additional 10 percent rating has been granted on an extraschedular basis due to its severity.

The Board denied restoration of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus in July 1986. The veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, proteinuria (claimed as right and left wrist disorders), and initial compensable evaluations for sinusitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs. The issues were not adjudicated due to a procedural issue regarding the denial of service connection for a left wrist injury.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressors. The medical evidence does not show a link between diagnosed conditions and service, leading to denial of all claims.

The veteran's appeal was denied due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal within the required timeframe.

The veteran's hearing loss disability in the right ear is service-connected, and his tinnitus is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO should assign ratings for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus and hepatitis were not incurred in service, and denied his claims for service connection. The chronic fatigue and memory loss issues did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of the assigned ratings.

The veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The RO has remanded the case due to issues with the VCAA.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, as required for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but the veteran is not entitled to compensation as his left ear hearing loss is not service-connected.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear otitis media were denied in an April 1999 rating decision. The Board dismissed the appeal because no timely Substantive Appeal was filed within one year of the decision.