Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of the veteran's hearing loss and whether it is related to service. The claim for PTSD will be reconsidered based on new information provided by the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or chronic conditions. The claim for hypertension was also denied as secondary to tinnitus due to lack of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left thumb disability, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder. The initial noncompensable evaluations assigned following grants of service connection were also denied.

The veteran incurred dental trauma to tooth number 26 during active service, and he is therefore entitled to outpatient dental services and treatment as well as related appliances for this tooth. The other claims of service connection were not granted.

The veteran's initial 10% disability evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied as the assignment of an increased rating was proper.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating as there was no basis to grant a higher rating or separate ratings for each ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, while left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown by competent medical evidence. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, but service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a ruptured eardrum, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of combat or in-service stressors.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, neuroma of the left foot, multiple lipomas, and hepatitis-C. The appeal was also denied regarding a claim to reopen a previously denied skin disorder secondary to parasite exposure and the March 20, 1996 rating decision on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's exposure to loud noise during active service likely caused his current hearing disability. Service connection was also granted for a liver disorder (including hepatitis C) due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The RO previously denied this claim in April 1995, but the veteran added claims for hepatitis, tinnitus, and scars due to an injury to his right eye. The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is related to a verified stressful event during service, which was not addressed by the RO in its previous decision.

The Board has determined that an effective date of February 8, 1982 for a 10% rating for tinnitus is warranted based on the liberalizing change in the law allowing for a separate evaluation for persistent tinnitus.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased evaluation of right sacroiliac dysfunction, service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and provide the veteran with a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that no formal or informal claim was received before March 20, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's parasellar tumor of the brain, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus of the left ear are all service-connected. The tumors began developing during his first period of active duty service, while his hearing loss was first identified in September 1992.

The RO granted service connection for tinnitus with an effective date of April 10, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the claim for disability of the feet claimed as residuals of frostbite. The evidence did not support a relationship between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are related to service, while left ear hearing loss is not. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in service due to noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.