Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a chronic sleep disorder or skin disorder related to service. The veteran's hyperlipidemia was not shown to be incurred in service, and his foot fungus was first noted many years after service discharge without any inservice treatment records. Service connection for diabetes mellitus with subjective neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted but at a 20% rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a relationship to service. The reopened claims were also denied.

The veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the Board finds that he has met the criteria for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's tinnitus and his military service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has found the veteran's account of noise exposure credible and consistent with his military service. The medical evidence confirms that he has tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, which are linked to his military noise exposure. As a result, the veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or a sinus disability attributable to service. The evidence does not establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service, and there are no currently demonstrated fragment wound scars of the right lower extremity. The claim for these conditions was denied.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disability, effective June 30, 2001. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as there is no basis to assign a higher than 10 percent disability rating. The claim for separate ratings for tinnitus in each ear was also denied due to the revised VA practice that only a single 10 percent evaluation can be assigned.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of the impact of in-service noise exposure on the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran was granted an effective date of May 30, 2003 for special monthly pension (SMP) at the housebound rate due to her entitlement to a combined disability rating of 60 percent or more.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, jungle rot, and hypothyroidism were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran submitted a claim prior to June 13, 2001 for service connection of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. Therefore, effective dates earlier than those assigned are not warranted.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records and the need for further review by a Decision Review Officer.