Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are most likely due to in-service acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation, but the appellant seeks an increased rating. The claim is addressed in the Remand section.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection effective June 14, 1996. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for either condition.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to December 1, 1996 for bilateral tinnitus was denied as the effective date of the change in VA regulations allowing for a compensable evaluation for tinnitus due to acoustic trauma is one year after the filing of his current application.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 10, 1999 for a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus is denied as the requirements have not been met.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial 10 percent ratings effective from August 31, 1995.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an increased rating for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied by the RO. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both effective from December 17, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, hand tremors, and facial scars. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's bilateral tinnitus is a persistent condition that occurred several times a week for periods lasting 15 to 20 minutes, warranting a 10 percent evaluation during the period from July 31, 1997 through June 9, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the effective dates assigned for a 100% evaluation for PTSD, which was granted effective January 27, 1989, and service connection for tinnitus, which was established effective May 18, 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various hearing, ear, and gastric conditions. The RO also granted service connection for tinnitus but assigned a noncompensable rating to his left ear hearing loss.

The veteran is seeking an effective date prior to March 23, 1998 for a compensable evaluation of his service-connected tinnitus. He also argues that the RO committed clear and unmistakable error in failing to assign a 10% evaluation for his tinnitus in October 1981.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an increased evaluation for history of right Bell's palsy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service exposure to aircraft and weapons noise.