Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The veteran is entitled to additional special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and his thyroid condition due to radiation exposure is not a radiogenic disease. Service connection for these conditions was denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA audiologic examination.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 29, 2001 and 2000 for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence that the veteran filed an earlier claim within one year of his separation from military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for separate compensable evaluations for service-connected bilateral tinnitus as there is no basis under current VA regulations and criteria to assign such ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, arthritis, heart disability, PTSD, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned, and separate ratings for each ear are not allowed under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, finding that there is no legal merit to these claims given the current rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of one or both feet, qualifying him for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence provided by the veteran.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for tinnitus and did not address the other issues as they were set aside by the Court. The veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain is rated at 20 percent from January 5, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of VA examination reports. The AMC or RO is instructed to obtain relevant medical records from the VAMCs in Walla Wall and Seattle, schedule new examinations for PTSD and tinnitus, and ask the veteran to clarify his appeal regarding shoulder disorders.

The veteran disagrees with the severance of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, as well as the assigned rating. The case is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus as it is not shown to be a matter of law.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is manifested by recurrent symptoms in each ear, and the Board has determined that he is not entitled to separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his facial scar with injury to facial nerve (7th) branches to superior orbicularis oris muscle. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking it to service, while the facial scar remains rated at 10 percent.