Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are found to be of sufficient severity to require the need for assistance with his activities of daily living. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions alone meet the criteria for SMC based on the regular need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional verification of the Veteran's service in the United States Navy Reserve and for obtaining complete service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability prior to February 14, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection was not granted for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, or an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted as the evidence is in equipoise regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperthyroidism, and a benign brain tumor have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,There is no current diagnosis of or treatment for the claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of tinnitus due to conceded noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to potential in-service exposure to methyl methacrylate, which could be related to these conditions. The Veteran's private audiologist records need to be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge was upgraded to under honorable conditions (general), thus removing any bar to VA benefits. The underlying merits of the service connection claims will now be adjudicated.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the August 2010 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, as well as the claim for tinnitus. The Veteran's service records confirm his service in Thailand from March 1968 to February 1970 and his alleged exposure to herbicides during that time. However, there is no direct evidence of such exposure. The Board has requested further inquiry through the JSRRC to verify this claim. For hypertension, VA treatment records do not confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus claim requires an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a January 2016 letter from a private audiologist. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and conduct new VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

Service connection for headaches has been granted. The Veteran's tinnitus is already at the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and effective dates earlier than November 8, 2013, for service connection for tinnitus and hiatal hernia have all been denied. The Veteran has also had his claim for a compensable evaluation for hiatal hernia and residual scars remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric condition (to include bipolar disorder and depression), sleep apnea, and multiple noncompensable disabilities prior to November 8, 2013 have all been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The claims for leukemia and lymphoma as secondary to herbicide exposure are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability, right big toe disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that they are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding medical evidence and addendum opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding his DJD of the thoracolumbar spine and remanded for further examination to determine its severity, as well as any associated neurological conditions. His TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to PTSD, herbicide exposure, or both.