Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on military service prior to March 1989. The claims for tinnitus and residuals of a perforated right eardrum are being remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for GERD has been granted, effective from March 23, 2000. The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected GERD does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The veteran's effective date for additional compensation for a dependent spouse is set to August 27, 1993, with the commencement of payment on September 1, 1993. This decision grants his claim based on the criteria that the earliest possible effective date aligns with the date of his increased disability rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and therefore denied this claim. The hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, PTSD, ocular disability, diarrhea, sinus problems, skin rashes, joint pains, nerve problems in the legs, leg cramps, burning feet, paralysis of the left side of the face, left hand and wrist injury, headaches, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that these conditions did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and increased the rating for postoperative, recurrent, maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis to 10 percent disabling. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of avulsion fracture, left ulna, with traumatic arthritis and bone deformity remains in controversy as it has not been addressed by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting their claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, tinnitus, residuals of left shoulder injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus on an extraschedular basis is denied as the evidence does not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development of evidence, including verifying the veteran's service as a tank gunner and obtaining an opinion on the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, which was previously denied. The RO has been instructed to obtain any relevant medical records from 1978 and determine if this can be granted.

The veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The issue of tinnitus will be addressed further as it requires additional development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not incurred during his active service due to noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent disability rating, effective from August 26, 1994. The claim for increased PTSD evaluation is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for a higher disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved.