Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss with tinnitus originated during his active duty service and is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral ear disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for defective hearing, tinnitus, and ear infections, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as service connection for cancer of the neck due to exposure to Agent Orange, were denied by the RO. The RO found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service or to exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing, tinnitus, diffuse cortical atrophy, and bursitis of the left shoulder as these conditions are not shown to have been present in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of October 16, 1999 for a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss and granted a separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus. The veteran's tinnitus is rated as constant, meeting the criteria for a 10 percent rating.