Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development and consideration of the veteran's claims due to failure to obtain initial RO consideration of new evidence, and insufficient notice for a scheduled hearing.

VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arterial hypertension, migraine headache with post-traumatic exacerbation, PTSD, peptic ulcer disease and hepatitis C, right shoulder pain, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, facial and scalp rash, and sinusitis and rhinitis.,VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, facial and scalp rash, and sinusitis and rhinitis. However, VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective August 1, 2000.,VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for peptic ulcer disease and hepatitis C.

The veteran's appeal involves claims for effective dates and increased ratings related to his service-connected tinnitus and right ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are granted as new and material evidence was received, but no rating or effective date is assigned due to the nature of the decision.

The veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but the Board finds that separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus are not warranted as a matter of law.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for separate initial 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as a matter of law due to the regulatory scheme and diagnostic codes pertaining to the auditory system.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, finding that only one 10 percent evaluation is assignable under current VA regulations and precedent opinions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for tinnitus, finding that a maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the May 28, 2002 filing was his first valid claim after final decisions in 1982 and 1989.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to conflicting accounts of when the tinnitus began, and a new VA audiological examination is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent rating is authorized under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 30 percent for hypertensive heart disease, a compensable original disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an original disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus, finding that a maximum of 10 percent disability rating is available under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a claim was filed prior to December 13, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred during service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions originated in service due to combat-related acoustic trauma. The veteran's tinnitus is considered secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board at a local RO has been granted, and his claims will be remanded to allow for additional development including consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent evaluation is appropriate under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule).

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no persuasive medical nexus evidence to support these conditions during his military service.