Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to the acoustic trauma he was exposed to during service. The Board finds that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to combat-related acoustic trauma during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the veteran's service medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and nightmares are being remanded to the RO.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The other issues remain unresolved.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, concluding that there was no direct link between his in-service acoustic trauma and current tinnitus.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's cervical spine disability and remanded the service connection issues for further development.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for tinnitus prior to June 10, 1999 was denied as there is no evidence of 'persistent' tinnitus warranting such an evaluation before the change in the rating schedule effective June 10, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting comprehensive VA specialty examinations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to July 23, 1998. The combined disability rating was 50 percent and there is no evidence that his disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record and adjudication due to missing service medical records, as well as compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has completed a vocational rehabilitation program and is currently employed. Therefore, his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral wrist disorder. The veteran's claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder. The issue of tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient medical records.

The veteran's arthritis of the left foot is granted as secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound, and he was also granted a 10% rating for this condition.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service exposure to acoustic trauma, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the appellant's service-connected gunshot wound to Muscle Group XII, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appellant's disability ratings have been adjusted accordingly.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, lung disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current skin disability.

The veteran's disabilities are all nonservice-connected and do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.