Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Barrett's esophagitis, hiatal hernia, colon polyps, and diverticulitis as these conditions were not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

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

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete records, including missing service personnel records and outstanding VA treatment records. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and provide the veteran with another opportunity to submit evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that he has already been awarded the maximum disability rating available under both the old and new versions of Diagnostic Code 6260. The veteran was not granted separate evaluations for each ear as requested.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim as VA disability compensation must be withheld due to receipt of separation pay upon discharge from active military service.

The veteran's hemorrhoids are found to have manifested during his service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both due to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the invalidation of a previous regulation and because he failed to report for a hearing with a Board Judge in May 2003.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, is denied as the highest possible schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Board has granted a separate compensable evaluation of 10% for the SFW scar residual, right little toe. The veteran's tinnitus claim and increased rating claims for shell fragment wound residuals are addressed in the remand portion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, finding that no legal basis existed to award such a date prior to January 30, 1997.

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

The Board denied a separate, 10 percent rating for tinnitus in each ear and the secondary service connection claims for arthritis of the right knee and left knee.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The case is pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to exposure to high noise in service, and his tinnitus is secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development due to missing service medical records and VCAA compliance issues.