Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for further searches.

The VA has determined that the appellant's tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent, is already at its maximum schedular evaluation and thus cannot be increased.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for separate compensable evaluations for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single evaluation is assignable under current VA regulations.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the criteria under Diagnostic Code 6260 do not allow for separate evaluations for each ear. The veteran's claim was denied as there is no legal basis to award such a rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability and no medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically his exposure during ACDUTRA in 1992 as a tank commander. The claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis, hypertension, and tinnitus was denied. The claims for hypertension and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left perforated tympanic membrane as they were found to be rated appropriately under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, both found to be due to service. Service connection for rectal prolapse was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it existed prior to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease causally related to these conditions. The claim for arthritis was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, dysthymic disorder or depression, tinnitus, hypertension, and irregular heartbeat. The SMRs were silent on these conditions during active duty, and there was no evidence linking them to service.

The Board has found that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine originated during his active service and granted service connection for this disability. The other issues were not addressed in detail.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the effective date of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability prior to October 15, 2003.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for tinnitus. The decision on service connection was final, while the earlier effective date claim is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's Federal retirement and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for tinnitus of each ear, finding that a single 10 percent rating was appropriate under the regulations.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2001 for service connection and compensation for tinnitus was granted. The effective date is set at June 21, 1996.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that separate ratings for each ear are not warranted.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal, and therefore dismisses the case.

The veteran's skin condition is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that there are no new or material issues to reopen his claims for service connection.