Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during active service, while his tinnitus is also linked to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied in April 2008. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 8, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 70 percent, effective from January 19, 2011 to October 1, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or warrant an increased combined rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and vertigo are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and sinusitis. The claim of increased rating for sinusitis is also granted, with a 10% disability rating assigned. Regarding the CUE in the September 1982 rating decision regarding hypertension, the appeal is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to service due to their onset within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, service connection for cellulitis of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran withdrew his claim for cellulitis of the knees during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise, allowing for a grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions originated during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a previous decision finding the May 2010 VA examination inadequate. The Veteran's tinnitus is being evaluated again as it may be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of PTSD and hearing loss remain on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, manifested by cold sweats, had its onset in service. The bilateral foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The bilateral knee disability was not incurred in service, nor is it due to a service-connected disability. The hearing loss disability of either ear was not incurred in service. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, squamous cell cancer, and hiatal hernia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a current disability in accordance with VA regulations or linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's fungal infection of ten toenails and right thumb is related to his service, specifically his time in Vietnam where he experienced wet conditions. As a result, the claim for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and PTSD were evaluated, but the RO found that the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for tinnitus was appropriate. The Veteran appealed this decision, seeking a higher evaluation. However, as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned, no further increase in evaluation can be granted under current regulations.