Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they require further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disability, headache disorder, back disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral foot fungus due to new evidence received since the final June 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted, and the case is remanded for a new rating decision on his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left knee disability. The decision was based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active service or were otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate disability and numbness of the fingers as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. However, his claim of service connection for depression due to a service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service.

The appeal is granted as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hip disorders are denied.

The Veteran's combined rating is 70 percent, which does not meet the requirement for permanent and total disability to qualify his wife for CHAMPVA benefits.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted service connection, and he is also awarded special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ due to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, along with other service-connected conditions, have resulted in a TDIU from August 23, 2012 to January 14, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities do not meet VA criteria for a disability or are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis of the feet, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were denied.,Service connection claims for these conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot hallux limitus, and left foot hallux limitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic muscle spasm of the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, dermatitis (claimed as skin rash), and headache (claimed as chronic headache).,There is no current evidence to support a diagnosis of chronic muscle spasm of the right leg. The Veteran's symptoms are not related to service.,The Veteran has sensorineural hearing loss that did not begin during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Tinnitus was first reported over 25 years after separation from service and is likely a symptom of the Veteran’s existing hearing loss.,Chronic sinusitis is not linked to service as there are no symptoms documented during service. The current diagnosis is too long after service for a link to be established.,The Veteran's dermatitis (claimed as skin rash) was not present during service and is not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 24, 2007. The Board also granted a TDIU rating effective from August 24, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since January 28, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his PTSD alone precludes him from employment.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cataracts have been rated at 30 percent since the initial claim in March 28, 2008. The Board has remanded his claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.