Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a final November 2007 rating decision. The claim for tinnitus, PTSD, and TBI were all granted with increased ratings.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability was noted upon entry into service and is not shown to be aggravated by his service. The claims for headaches, nausea, dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded as they may be related to a single medical condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as the timely notice of disagreement has been received.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further proceedings consistent with a Joint Motion, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining an opinion on the etiology of any current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary aggravation.

The Veteran's tinnitus and Parkinson's disease are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, while asthma is presumed due to noise exposure. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise for these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received for bilateral hearing loss, and additional development is needed for other issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD/depression), coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as it is found to be directly related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, updating employment information, and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and secondary service connection for tinnitus as being related to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death, resulting in a grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including headaches, have been rated at 30 percent since September 17, 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for the period from March 27, 2009 to September 16, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent rating, effective September 20, 2010. The Veteran's current symptomatology is attributed to his PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus being presumed due to in-service noise exposure. The psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also granted as it has been linked to a verified stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current eye disabilities are not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 15, 2005, for the award of service connection for a depressive disorder and alcohol abuse is dismissed. The Board has also granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.