Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including internal derangement of the right knee, hiatal hernia with minimal esophageal reflux, tear of the left medial meniscus, chronic fatigue syndrome, tinnitus, and varicosities of the left lower leg, are considered productive of total disability as of September 17, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for awards of service connection and compensation for tinnitus, finding no legal basis for an earlier effective date than October 15, 1997.

The Board determined that the veteran did not file an adequate substantive appeal for his claims of service connection and nonservice-connected pension benefits, thus dismissing these issues.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a defective hearing disability or tinnitus related to service. The initial medical evidence of these conditions was shown many years after service, following a post-service head injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation benefits related to his claimed conditions, including tinnitus, bilateral ptosis with conjunctivitis, headaches, and nervous disorders. The decision also addressed a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year of discharge. The psychiatric disability was also not incurred in service. As a result, these claims are denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. � 1151 for various disabilities and adverse symptomology as a result of treatment received at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center from February 1998 to August 2001. The claims are denied due to lack of specific evidence regarding increased severity, causation by VA fault, or unforeseeable events.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disease, right inguinal hernia, and skin condition have all been denied. Service connection was granted for the residuals of a pre-existing right inguinal hernia repair.

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

The VA denied the claim that the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The Board found no evidence linking any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his hearing loss and tinnitus, to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest communication of record was in August 1997.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings and new rating determinations on tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral otitis media was dismissed due to the absence of a timely Substantive Appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 14, 1997 for a 10 percent disability evaluation for tinnitus. The veteran argued that he was entitled to this evaluation based on a change in VA regulations in March 1976, but the Board found that his claim was not filed within one year of this regulation change.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 90 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's conditions are likely due to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The veteran is not currently shown to have a right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. His service-connected tinnitus is manifested by ringing or a loud shrill in the ears. His service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently shown to be manifested by auditory acuity level I.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted service connection for the residuals of a fracture of the left lower leg with post-operative scar. The claim for a compensable disability rating for a scar on the right hand was also denied.