Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that they were not well-grounded. The dental trauma claim was also denied but is pending as it pertains to treatment purposes only.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is not well-grounded because there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but denied his claim for bronchitis due to herbicide exposure as not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependence and respiratory disability due to tobacco use, hearing loss, tinnitus, neurological disability, circulatory disability, and lung disability. The claims were found not well grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, right shoulder injury, and tinnitus. The skin disorder claim is not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids were denied by the RO. The RO did not assign a rating higher than 10 percent for his low back condition or his tinnitus, but continued to deny his requests for higher ratings for his bilateral patello-femoral syndrome and hemorrhoids.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral defective hearing and determined that it is well-grounded.,The veteran's current tinnitus is also considered a well-grounded issue.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or depression related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as they are not well grounded.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, or sinus disorder to service and denied the claims for service connection.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to any incident of service, including acoustic trauma in service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a heart condition secondary to PTSD and assigned a 60% evaluation effective from July 11, 1991. The veteran's claim of TDIU was also granted with an effective date of July 11, 1991.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder, tinnitus, hiatal hernia, and ulcer. The evidence did not provide sufficient material to reopen the previously denied claim for stomach disorder. For tinnitus, the Board found no competent evidence linking it to service exposure. Similarly, there was insufficient evidence connecting the hiatal hernia or ulcer to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred hearing loss during active duty service and finds it plausible that noise exposure in service contributed to his current hearing condition. However, there is no competent medical evidence linking tinnitus to service.

The veteran is seeking a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected tinnitus, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO has been instructed to consider the impact of tinnitus on his employment and provide an appropriate examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple conditions, including a fracture of the right great toe, a disorder of the right leg and ankle, arthritis of the hands and feet, hearing loss, and tinnitus, are not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are not related to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected vertigo and tinnitus, effective from September 20, 1994. The right hip fracture is also found to be secondary to the service-connected vertigo and tinnitus, warranting separate service connection.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues due to a lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right foot or need for aid and attendance/housebound status.