Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions significantly contribute to his impairment of employment, and he is entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD from 10% to 30% has been granted, effective November 20, 1995. The appeal on the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not service-connected as they did not meet the criteria for service connection under direct service connection or any other applicable theory of entitlement. The veteran's flat feet preexisted his military service and worsened during active duty, but this was not considered aggravation due to service. His hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by acoustic trauma in service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, ruptured left tympanic membrane, and tinnitus do not warrant higher ratings as they are currently rated at their maximum levels under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ear infection/condition and tinnitus as there is no medical evidence of current disorders or a link to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no current evidence of tinnitus and thus no basis to establish a nexus between any past or present disability and military service.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss and granted service connection based on direct evidence showing that his current hearing impairment meets VA criteria. The issue of tinnitus is also addressed, with a finding in favor of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied by the Board. The decision states that there is no legal merit to the claim as it cannot be assigned a retroactive effective date before September 26, 2000, when the original claim was received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest possible effective date was September 3, 1999.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that the veteran's clinical signs and manifestations meet the criteria for such a rating. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to military service. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but still denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence indicating a relationship between his current tinnitus and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing condition, effective from April 30, 2001.

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1983 rating decisions denying service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and residuals of right ear infection due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and granted a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have service connection for hearing loss, right ankle injury, right wrist sprain, tinnitus, left knee chondromalacia, serous otitis media, or cyst of the right testicle. The evaluation for lumbosacral strain is 10 percent.