Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1, finding that it was incurred during active duty. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence showing current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as an increased rating for the post-operative residuals of a left tibial fracture. The effective date for the separate 10% rating for the scar on the left lower extremity with recurrent cellulitis is set at September 17, 1992.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest schedular evaluation (100%) since May 1998, and his tinnitus is also rated at its maximum schedular evaluation (10%). The dermatitis of the left foot and onychomycosis of the left great toe are currently rated at zero percent.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and burn scar of the right hand were denied as there was no evidence to support higher evaluations based on current medical findings.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the July 1991 decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss of the right ear are all service-connected. The decision grants these claims.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 21, 1995 for a grant of service connection for Meniere's disease with endolymphatic hydrops, bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral defective hearing, and tinnitus were denied as they are not well-grounded.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability, effective from the date of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the right arm, hypertension, depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a back injury as they are not well-grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation. Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted on a secondary basis due to the veteran's PTSD, while service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing disability is due to disease or injury incurred in service, while his claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no competent evidence showing a current disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The RO found no evidence linking the current tinnitus to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, and thus denied this claim as well. His claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and have therefore been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during his military service, experienced changes in hearing during service, and provided credible testimony regarding exposure to noise during service. A private physician opined that the veteran's moderate to severe neurosensory hearing loss is likely as not due to his combat and military service noise exposure. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss with tinnitus is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. An effective date of July 29, 1993, has been assigned for the award of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a cerebral thrombosis, identified as tinnitus, and spleen disorder (enlarged spleen) are both secondary to his service-connected polycythemia vera. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and dizziness are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.