Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including cephalalgia, post concussion syndrome, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, are not rated higher than their current levels. The Board found that the veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 31, 1990 for service connection of tinnitus. The decision stated that there was no evidence prior to May 31, 1990 indicating a claim for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, hyperbilirubinemia, and right knee scars must be remanded due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to the failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's claimed conditions and his active military service, including verifying in-service stressful events for PTSD.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1996 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable evaluation for tinnitus, as the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation based on persistent tinnitus.

The Board finds that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and continues to exist, warranting service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board granted a 100 percent schedular evaluation for PTSD effective April 10, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for secondary service connection for right shoulder and low back disorders. The evidence submitted since previous decisions was not considered new and material.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 8, 1999, for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that it was incurred during active duty due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, both with noncompensable evaluations effective May 8, 1998. The claim for a compensable evaluation for tinnitus prior to July 10, 1999 is denied, as the evidence shows constant tinnitus on and after that date. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus on and after July 10, 1999 is also denied. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that his hearing impairment did not warrant such evaluations based on the available evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, residuals of frostbite, a back condition, and a left knee condition. The veteran's stomach condition was not found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis, leading to service connection for PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also found to be related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the feet is addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran is now entitled to this benefit based on his reported noise exposure during service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has remanded the case, noting that additional records are needed and that the VA failed to adequately advise the appellant about his claim.