Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee disorder and tinnitus, have not substantially impaired his ability to obtain or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The VA determined that the veteran has overcome the effects of these impairments through employment in an occupation consistent with his pattern of abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The VA denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including PTSD, back disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, and hepatitis. The appeals were dismissed due to failure to file a timely appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be decided, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with a VA examination to determine if his hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor can a sensorineural hearing loss be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has restored service connection for right ear hearing loss and the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss remains on appeal.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated during his service, as the medical evidence does not support a connection to service exposure.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for persistent bilateral tinnitus since the date service connection was established, September 4, 1993. The veteran's tinnitus is considered to be at least recurrent and associated with exposure to acoustic trauma during his twenty years of active duty service.

The veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection effective August 16, 1972. The Board also found that the correct effective date for this grant of service connection is August 16, 1972.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury and remanded this issue to the RO. The appeal is still pending regarding claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and asbestosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus, postoperative bilateral inguinal hernias, and chronic sinusitis as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his total rating based on individual unemployability, but the RO has denied this request. The case will be remanded to obtain additional evidence and ensure full compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus. The veteran is found to have current PTSD related to in-service stressors, which was incurred during active military service.

The Board finds that a thoracic spine disability was incurred due to active service. The veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have developed as a result of noise exposure during active service.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue of a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's current tinnitus is linked to acoustic trauma during service, which resulted in his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that severance was not proper due to clear and unmistakable error in the November 1998 rating decision.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus warranted a 10 percent evaluation, but not an increase. The hearing loss claim is pending and requires additional medical examination to determine its severity.