Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2001

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the assignment of a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for service connection of defective hearing, tinnitus, and diffuse chronic myofascial pain without evidence of loss of function is December 14, 1998, which was the date of receipt of the veteran's request to reopen his claims.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis with benign positional vertigo and tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is due to injury of service origins. The issue regarding blurred vision will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increased evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities as of November 21, 1998 and this is the earliest date he could have been granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied as his original claim was received on July 21, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TMJ disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral wrist and elbow disabilities are all service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of a current disability related to abnormal blood tests or other conditions. The RO had already granted service connection for residuals of a fracture left elbow (chip fracture of the proximal portion of the olecranon process) and assigned a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to loud noises during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hearing loss of the right ear and an increased rating for tinnitus. The issue regarding whether the RO in November 1985 was clearly and unmistakably erroneous by denying a separate, compensable evaluation for tinnitus was also denied. The effective date claim for the grant of a 10 percent rating for tinnitus earlier than February 8, 1994, was not addressed as it is unclear if this issue was properly developed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during his combat duty in Vietnam. The claim for dermatitis as secondary to Agent Orange exposure remains pending, and an examination will be scheduled to determine its etiology.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent since June 10, 2000. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent as of November 24, 1999.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and compensation for tinnitus is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support his claim.

The Board denied reimbursement or payment by VA for unauthorized medical expenses incurred in connection with the appellant's treatment at a private hospital in Gainesville, Florida from August 22 to September 1, 1993. The appeal is based on the appellant's participation in a vocational rehabilitation program and the presence of an unoccupied bed at the nearby VA facility.

The Board denied increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current hearing acuity does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, considering the impairment from the disorders and his educational and occupational background.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (left total knee arthroplasty, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus) are evaluated as 70 percent disabling. The combined disability rating is 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 20, 1999, for service connection granted for tinnitus. The decision states that no informal claims were made prior to December 20, 1999.

The veteran's appeal is denied as the RO properly assigned a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and granted service connection for residuals of an injury to the sacrum and coccyx with a 10 percent rating. The appeals for increased ratings, compensable evaluations, and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are also denied.