Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran is granted a compensable disability rating of 10% for his tinnitus, which has been determined to be directly related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his period of active service.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are pending, while his claim for residuals of tuberculosis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to June 10, 1999 is denied. The issue of an effective date prior to March 16, 1999 for tinnitus service connection and rating remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran did not have a recognized hearing disability in either ear under VA criteria. The claim was denied as his current condition does not meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board found no current evidence of a heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the claimed disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, and has reopened the claim for a back disorder. The veteran's current disability from degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is found to be related to his in-service injuries. The rating for recurrent malignancies of the skin remains at 30 percent.

The veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and traumatic arthritis of the right ankle are all found to be related to his military service. The residuals of a left middle finger shell fragment wound have also been granted as service-connected.

The veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and tinnitus are all granted. The Board found that the veteran likely has current hearing disability due to disease or injury incurred in service, a back disability secondary to disk space narrowing and degenerative changes, and tinnitus due to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for an effective date prior to March 19, 1997 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment as of May 22, 1997. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set at this date.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an employment handicap, and he has successfully maintained employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The VA has requested additional medical records and will conduct further examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and a low back injury. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for a low back injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and a back disability. However, there is no competent medical evidence etiologically linking these conditions to military service or any inservice injury. The claim of PTSD was not supported by sufficient evidence in this decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and granted it. The decision also grants service connection for tinnitus, but denies service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the tinnitus rating and did not reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain updated medical records, provide a VA examination, and determine if new evidence supports reopening the bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board denied service connection for a shell fragment wound to the forehead, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, specifically his role as an aircraft mechanic. The claim for service connection is granted.