Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for defective hearing and tinnitus in April 1991, citing the lack of objective evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. With resolution of reasonable doubt, the Board finds that these conditions are related to the veteran's period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, with a rating of 10% each. The effective date for the award of a compensable evaluation for tinnitus is set at February 18, 1998.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for costochondritis, which the veteran claimed as back pain. The evaluation for tinnitus remains at noncompensable.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and a higher rating have been denied. The RO has assigned the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent for tinnitus, which is the highest available under VA regulations.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a medically unexplained irritable bowel syndrome, both presumed to be due to Gulf War service. Service connection was denied for the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and digestive disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. However, the decision is mixed as some issues have merit while others do not.

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

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded due to the addition of new evidence and changes in his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss effective from June 10, 2000. The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a right ring finger injury in June 1997. The veteran is contesting this decision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus, a body rash, and residuals of a right shoulder injury. The claim for chronic sleep disorder is denied as it is not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's tinnitus and service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right calf. The veteran was not granted any higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, while his skin lesions of the left thigh were also not related to his service. The claim for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are related to a blast injury sustained during basic training in 1952. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The veteran's shell fragment wound scars are not rated as compensable.