Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

The veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to failure to report for the scheduled examination. The veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral tinnitus was also denied as there is no legal basis for a separate 10% evaluation for each ear under the applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right tympanic membrane perforation as they were not warranted under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inability to transcribe a hearing tape, and they request another personal hearing before the Board.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claim for separate evaluations for each ear was denied as there is no provision for such in the current regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received from the veteran, and further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The veteran appealed the effective date for service connection granted for bilateral hearing loss, which was originally dated February 10, 1999. The Board found that an effective date of August 2, 1991, should be assigned as this is when the veteran's claim to reopen his original denial was received.,The veteran also appealed the effective date for service connection granted for tinnitus, which was originally dated February 15, 2000. The Board found that an earlier effective date prior to August 2, 1991, could not be assigned as there were no documents prior to this date indicating a claim for tinnitus.

The veteran is entitled to additional compensation for his spouse, S.J.H., due to the presence of at least one service-connected disability rated at 30% or more.

The veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear of service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings given the maximum schedular rating already assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, or trench mouth that is related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis to award separate ratings for each ear.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back condition is service-connected, and hearing loss and tinnitus are also service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to noise during combat. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The veteran's claim for separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the condition is assigned a single 10 percent rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently does not have Meniere's disease, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. However, the Board finds that his recurring episodes of dizziness are at least as likely as not related to his military service and grants service connection for vertigo.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence showing a relationship between the condition and military service.

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

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied as his loss of vision in left eye is not due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The reimbursement claim for travel expenses was also denied.