Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, tendonitis of the elbows, and residuals of a left knee injury were not related to his active service. The exposure to fuels, halon, asbestos, and choking in altitude chambers was also not supported by evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The appeal is also pending regarding a higher rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a low back disorder and for increased evaluations for PTSD, post-traumatic migraine headaches, tinnitus, residuals of a left knee injury with post-traumatic arthritis, status post excision of fibromatosis with residual scar, and mid-occipital scalp scar. The RO confirmed noncompensable ratings for hearing loss and scar, residual of a left temple gunshot wound.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, adjustment disorder with anxious features, and post traumatic headaches are all rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent. The RO has granted these evaluations effective from October 1998.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip sprain and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The veteran's lumbar spine injury is rated as moderate with no additional limitation due to pain, spasm, or weakness. Bilateral tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. Service connection was also established for bilateral hearing loss and right hip sprain. A noncompensable rating has been assigned for bilateral hip tendonitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral high frequency hearing loss. The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is due to inservice acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for hearing loss remains pending as a separate issue.

The Board has determined that the appellant's perforated eardrums, otitis media, sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD. The Board found that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for tinnitus, and denied an increased evaluation for bilateral defective hearing. The veteran's current level of hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or a nexus between them and in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss. The veteran's tinnitus was granted, but the initial rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made. As a result, his appeals for increased rating for hearing loss and for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection are dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature, severity and etiology of any left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran's service connection claim will be remanded for further action.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the medical evidence does not establish a causal relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and any incident of service. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current tinnitus disability and concluded that the veteran's claim for service connection was denied.