Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from February 2002. The veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent since January 1994. His left ear hearing loss is rated at zero percent since July 1971. The residuals of the mortar fragment wound to the left forearm are also rated at zero percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, prostatic disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to certain hazards or diseases.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of hands and feet, finding it likely related to exposure to cold during military service. The other claims remain pending.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a rating greater than 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that the schedular criteria did not warrant such an increase.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent. The claim for tinnitus remains at the current 10 percent rating. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's tinnitus and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest original claims were filed on March 29, 2002.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during the veteran's service, and there is no showing of continuity of symptomatology after service. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his combat service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The TDIU claim was also denied as the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to service, specifically acoustic trauma during World War II. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the existing regulations do not allow for assignment of separate ratings for each ear. The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as they are linked to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial schedular rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus and a prior effective date for service connection of bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that the existing regulations do not allow for separate ratings for each ear. The maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular benefit allowable.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran is seeking separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus of each ear, claiming that his tinnitus is related to inner ear problems specific to each ear. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and medical opinion.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded to obtain additional records from SSA and review all evidence since the last SSOC.