Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during military service, and thus grants these claims.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is granted.

The Board granted an effective date of October 6, 2000 for the grant of a 10% evaluation for service-connected low back residuals and November 9, 2000 for the grant of tinnitus. The veteran's claims were based on factual ascertainability.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and seizures, but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, and additional development is needed including obtaining medical records, arranging for examinations, and issuing a statement of the case.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of evaluating his bilateral hearing loss, currently rated at 10%, is dismissed.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and neck disability, finding that the effective date could not be earlier than December 31, 1997, and that his neck disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The VA determined that the veteran's additional disability was not caused by negligence or fault on the part of VA, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for Meniere's syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a higher evaluation for PTSD. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus or 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, as it is linked to his in-service noise exposure and his already established service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the evaluation for tinnitus due to a late Substantive Appeal, and did not reach the merits of the hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right vestibular nerve resection due to Meniere's disease, finding that his condition produces impairment equivalent to moderate Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during military service, establishing service connection. The claim for otitis externa was previously denied but new evidence supports reopening this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, specifically noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have defective hearing, a chronic ear infection, or tinnitus that can be attributed to service. The evidence does not support these claims.