Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence of a service injury and concluded that the appellant's current back, hearing loss, and tinnitus conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% disability evaluation effective June 27, 1996. His tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were each assigned noncompensable evaluations. The veteran is entitled to an increased disability evaluation for PTSD from November 16, 1992, but the issue of earlier TDIU effective date prior to June 27, 1996 is moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Board denied an increased rating for mandible fractures with TMJ arthralgia and muscle contraction headaches, but granted service connection for these conditions as part of the previously service-connected disability. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for defective hearing and tinnitus due to new evidence showing exposure to noise in service. The Board finds that these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear tinnitus, dizziness, and residuals of a head injury (claimed as a skull condition) due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a cold injury of the left and right feet, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a fracture of the right clavicle, an inactive ulcer, and inactive hepatitis, prior to November 6, 1998.

The effective date for removing the veteran's former spouse as a dependent for purposes of computation of disability pension benefits is established as August 1, 1998. The veteran's appeal is granted to this extent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic bronchitis with early COPD, Dupuytren's contractures of both hands, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that no claim was filed prior to August 11, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current evidence supports these claims due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disability from a low back disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or tinnitus related to service. However, he is entitled to service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The veteran's claim is now pending before the RO for further action.

The Board found that the noncompensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and the 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus were appropriate based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during service, specifically from depth charges in World War II and aircraft engines and gun turrets while serving as a gunner on B-50 aircraft. As such, the appeal for these conditions is granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's tinnitus did not occur during his military service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, they denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a skin rash, left thumb injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acute gastroenteritis, and sores on the penis and rectum (claimed as an ulcer condition). The veteran was also denied a 10 percent disability evaluation based upon multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all related to his active military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is due to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise for and against the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding a relationship to noise exposure during service. Service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left hip strain and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left inguinal hernia, initial ratings for GERD and varicocele. The appellant's current conditions are rated at the minimum levels allowed by VA regulations.