Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board granted a 10% rating for the veteran's service-connected tinnitus, effective from September 4, 2003.

The Board dismissed the appeal because an adequate substantive appeal was not filed within 60 days of the statement of the case.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for nonservice-connected pension, and dismissed his appeals concerning service connection for depression and entitlement to TDIU. The case is remanded for further development related to PTSD, tinnitus, and left forearm disability.

The Board is remanding the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The RO must obtain medical records from prior sinusitis treatment, brain tumor operations, and a mastoidectomy performed during active duty.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for defective hearing and lower extremity/knee disorders, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The claim for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, and hypertension. The RO will obtain complete service medical records and any relevant personnel records from the service department, as well as post-service medical records. They will also schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus, finding that a 10 percent evaluation was warranted prior to June 10, 1999 and that no higher schedular rating is available.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, but the veteran's original claim of service connection remains denied.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus. The Board previously denied this claim, and the Court remanded it to consider the new criteria for evaluating tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 7, 2000 for a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO received the veteran's initial claim on that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for reopening of the hearing loss claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his bilateral tinnitus, which is the maximum available under the applicable regulations. The benefit sought on appeal continues to be denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including myocardial infarction and lower dorsal spine injury, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to military service or any incident of active duty, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 1, 1991 for the awards of service connection and initial ratings for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The veteran's claim for tinnitus was also granted with an effective date of October 8, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are of service origin, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision denying service connection for tinnitus, low back disability secondary to right knee instability with a history of two meniscectomies, and increased rating for right knee instability with a history of two meniscectomies is not supported by the evidence.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential service connection issues, requiring further examination and review of medical records.