Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids. The veteran's depressive and anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted by the appellant and a need for further development of his claim, including scheduling him for an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury (claimed as AVM with tinnitus) and narcolepsy, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma. The claims for secondary service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as otitis media and externa of the left ear, are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for otitis externa, anorexia, and bilateral tinnitus as there is no competent medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus, finding that a maximum 10 percent rating was available under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran due to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of otitis media with intermittent tinnitus, to include postoperative residuals of tympanoplasty, are not productive of marked interference with employment. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at the lowest possible level (10 percent).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and did not reopen his previously denied claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a fractured jaw.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorder is not.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and needs further action before a final decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim of entitlement to service connection for a jaw disorder. The Board found that new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening these claims.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as he did not meet the statutory requirements of having been rated totally disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing impairment and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current tinnitus and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cold injury residuals and bilateral hearing loss, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, and residuals of a left hand injury. The evidence does not support the veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.,Service records do not show any respiratory issues, hearing problems, high blood pressure, or injuries to the left hand during service. The earliest signs of COPD, hearing loss, hypertension, and a history of injury to the left hand occurred many years after service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. The claim for a low back disorder is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the prior final denial in April 1992.