Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and penile curvature with erectile dysfunction, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, personality disorder, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred as a result of active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements regarding chronic tinnitus during and after service are most probative evidence of record. The Board also found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a clear opinion on whether it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for right shoulder condition, right foot/ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the Board finding that there is current evidence of these conditions and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260. The appeal for a higher initial disability rating is denied as there is no legal basis to award a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and the denial is upheld.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for reactive airway disease (asthma) was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 6, 2013 is granted. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment during this time.

Low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Hearing loss is rated under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The increased rating claims for the right knee injury with patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus are being evaluated to determine if they either caused or aggravated his dementia.

The appeals for service connection on the merits of various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal for substitution has also been remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus since August 3, 2013 is denied. The issue of an initial rating for TBI residuals and a separate rating from PTSD for TBI residuals after August 19, 2015 is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Joint pain (bilateral knee osteoarthritis), neck disorder (cervical spine arthritis), and back disorder (lumbar spine arthritis) have not met the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be related to service or within one year of separation from service.,Left ankle disorder, vision disorder (refractive error of the eye), bilateral hearing loss, shortness of breath, and sleep disorder have not been established as service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Heart disorder has not met the criteria for service connection.