Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus effective June 26, 1991, one year earlier than the date of receipt of an informal claim in May 1973.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined 60 percent, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU as he does not meet the schedular requirements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including a VA audiological evaluation to determine if the conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined, based on the medical and satisfactory lay evidence set forth above, that the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred during his active service. As a result, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, likely PTSD, were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a compensable initial rating from February 25, 2003 to September 24, 2009, but the claim for an increased rating after that date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its complications were denied as there was no diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder prior to February 20, 2003 was not granted due to lack of a formal or informal claim within one year of separation from service.,Service connection for tinnitus prior to April 14, 2003 was denied as the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim within one year of separation from service.,An effective date prior to February 20, 2003 for an increased rating for residuals of fractures of the distal medial malleolus and distal fibula with post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle was denied as there was no increase in disability prior to that date.,A total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability from March 2004, when the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work within one year, was granted effective July 31, 2004.,Initial ratings of greater than 50 percent and greater than 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder were denied as the symptoms did not meet criteria for total occupational and social impairment.,A rating higher than 20 percent for residuals of fractures of the distal medial malleolus and distal fibula with post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle was denied due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or malunion.,A compensable rating for residuals of a right heminephrectomy was not granted as there were no requirements met under VA's criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active service. Service connection was denied for basal cell carcinoma and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran does not experience any current disability due to bilateral hearing loss or inguinal hernia attributable to military service.,The Veteran's claimed tinnitus is not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids (claimed as anal fissures), neck disability, lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action.

The January 2002 rating decision for tinnitus and the May 1981 rating decision for fragment wound of the right thigh were not found to have clear and unmistakable error, thus denying accrued benefits claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and his shrapnel scars on the back are rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is incurred in active military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of current tinnitus related to his military service, so service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease is also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus or coronary artery disease were related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his period of active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder. The evidence submitted since the last final rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as these conditions were not shown in service, within a year of discharge from service, and there is no medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.