Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches, as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying, chronic disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded an effective date of February 6, 2003. Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, defective hearing (bilateral high frequency hearing loss), and tinnitus. The evidence now supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 30 percent initial rating for PTSD, effective from July 30, 2002. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or any other basis.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during active service. The claim for tinnitus must be denied due to lack of contemporaneous evidence and negative medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as service-connected conditions. The RO is instructed to gather more information about the veteran's noise exposure history during and after service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for myocardial infarction, tinnitus, and right-sided hearing loss. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a lung disorder, anxiety or depression, hearing loss, tinnitus, or hypertension that is attributable to his military service.

The Board determined that the appellant did not serve in active duty and therefore is not considered a veteran for purposes of receiving VA benefits. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was not addressed. The RO granted service connection and a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral defective hearing, effective from April 10, 1995.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including service medical records from the Riverside Naval Hospital.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the previously denied claim of hearing loss. The decision also noted that the RO's February 1988 denial was final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's total combined rating of 80 percent for service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, including his partial amputations and shoulder conditions, meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.