Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions. The Board has granted a compensable disability evaluation (30%) for the service-connected ureteral calculi.

The Board has not decided the service connection for tinnitus, but has reopened the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the hearing loss claim is mixed - some issues are granted while others are denied.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating was appropriate under Diagnostic Code 6260 due to recurrent tinnitus.

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 veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from a May 2000 VA surgery, but the RO needs to obtain and review all relevant medical records and schedule an examination to determine if there is any additional disability due to the VA surgery.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, arthritis of the right elbow, and hypertension were all denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a head injury, including cognitive disorders and memory dysfunction, are service-connected. The mental disorder to include PTSD is not service-connected. Asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux disease, hypertension, and fibromyalgia are also not service-connected as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral defective hearing, finding that a single 10 percent evaluation was appropriate under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that neither condition warranted a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear and service connection for tinnitus of the left ear. The evidence did not show that tinnitus began during or was caused by service.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus was granted a 10% evaluation, but his right ear hearing loss remains non-compensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to loud noise during active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating already assigned was appropriate under the applicable regulations.

The Board finds that the veteran has current disabilities of residuals of frostbite in both upper and lower extremities, which were incurred during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral tinnitus, including entitlement to a separate evaluation for each ear. The maximum schedular rating allowed for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence to support these conditions.