Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's vertigo is rated at 30 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 6204. The rating decision grants an increased rating for vertigo.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus as a result of his time in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for Meniere's syndrome with hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus prior to June 16, 2003 was granted. The effective date of the grant of Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, was also set at May 5, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his residuals of cold injury to hands and feet, to ascertain if he has received any VA or non-VA medical treatment related to his service-connected PTSD, and to schedule him for a VA examination in order to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and dermatitis. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions, nor could it establish a link to service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as his claim was received on March 24, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo are not the result of a disease or injury during service.

The Board has granted a separate 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right (major) humeral compound fracture residuals with biceps muscle involvement and scar residuals under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5202.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus are not related to his period of active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the veteran's claims, including obtaining verification of his Reserve service and scheduling him for an audiological and psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claims. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to events in service.,A 70% disability rating was granted for PTSD effective April 30, 1997. The issue of an earlier effective date for TDIU is moot as the award was made on January 23, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, cluster headaches, chronic bronchitis, scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, tension headaches, cervical and lumbar strains, toenail fungus, neuropathy, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a finger disability, were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.