Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a rating of 10 percent for hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease), bilateral exophthalmia, and arthritis of the right shoulder.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including a visual disability, and for a disability of the left ulnar nerve, including post-traumatic numbness of the 4th and 5th digits. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these issues.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, but granted service connection for a psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and knee disabilities. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional left Dupuytren's contractures was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and finds no evidence linking his current depression, hearing loss, or tinnitus to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for post traumatic stress disorder and a cervical spine disorder. The veteran's lumbar myositis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was initially granted with a 10 percent evaluation from December 16, 1997 to June 13, 2002, which was later increased to 40 percent effective June 14, 2002. The veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were each assigned initial compensable evaluations, while his scars of the posterior aspect of the left elbow and right upper back and osteoarthritis of the left wrist, history of left wrist fracture received initial non-compensable evaluations.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding tinnitus and a left shoulder disability. The case will be sent back for additional examinations and consideration.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to noise exposure during his active military service, and tinnitus was not present during service or until years thereafter, and is not etiologically related to the veteran's active military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and did not reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric 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 and tinnitus. The veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering his service connection claim for right ear hearing loss. The case must also be referred to the Undersecretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims of service connection for headaches, bilateral foot fungus, numbness of hands, and tinnitus due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral tinnitus warranted a maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent, as per Diagnostic Code 6260. The RO had previously granted service connection for this condition and assigned a 10 percent rating. No extra-schedular consideration was warranted due to the lack of hospitalizations or significant work disruptions.

The veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder were denied by the RO. The veteran is not entitled to any compensation or evaluations based on his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for loss of sense of smell due to lack of evidence establishing a direct link.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus warranted a maximum 10 percent disability rating, as per the applicable regulations. The veteran was not granted an increased evaluation.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues regarding service connection for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis/sinusitis. The appeal is currently remanded for additional evidence collection.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is now remanded for additional examination and review.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.