Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a low back disability, and an upper back disability due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal regarding the June 1994 decision denying service connection for tinnitus is pending and has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examination and evidence for the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and residuals, right hand disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus as a matter of law, given the regulatory changes and interpretation.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for tinnitus, finding that the current rating criteria do not allow for a separate 10 percent evaluation for each ear and that there is no legal basis to award such evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for skin cancer is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent disability rating is authorized under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not establish a link to service or current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a service connection for any of the conditions listed, including hypertension, hemorrhoids, residuals of tympanic membrane perforations (tinnitus), right maxillary cyst, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and right leg nerve damage.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an increased rating for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the veteran incurred these conditions during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence indicates these conditions are unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, which is related to his military service, warrants a maximum 10 percent disability rating. The decision denies the claim for separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal as he withdrew his appeal in October 2004.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal with respect to a September 1995 rating decision, and therefore denied the appeal.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to noise exposure in service, and his hearing loss is granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and squamous cell skin cancer are not service-connected. The evidence does not show these conditions were present during or within one year after service, nor is there any competent medical evidence linking them to service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as incurred in service. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial. The claims for residuals of low back injury, neck injury, bilateral leg disability, knee disability, and foot disabilities remain denied.

The Board found that the revised version of Diagnostic Code 6260 precludes the assignment of separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus and that a single 10 percent rating is the maximum available for tinnitus.