Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 11, 2013, and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence of a severe disability warranting higher ratings.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss. The petitions to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were granted. Service connection was denied for a left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to conflicting evidence on causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability is at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma he suffered during military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions began during military service and are related to exposure to loud noises.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he failed to provide the necessary employment information and did not report for scheduled VA examinations, leading to his abandonment of the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during her military service and has continued since then, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The left inguinal hernia claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD warranted a TDIU rating, and his other service-connected disabilities combined to more than 60 percent. The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the December 2010 rating decision that failed to award SMC at the (s) rate due to CUE.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and tinnitus. The claim for neuropathy of the bilateral hands and fingers is denied due to lack of diagnosis. The claim for neuropathy of the bilateral feet is also denied. The claim for a lumbar spine disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is found to be secondary to the now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disturbances, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD during active duty and his current diagnoses were related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and bilateral high frequency hearing loss, collectively prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus and skin cancer claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The VA will attempt to obtain updated treatment records from a correctional facility, arrange for an audiologist examination, and provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit any relevant private records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that her symptoms are not related to military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran does not have a current disability. The Board notes that she did sustain acoustic trauma during active service, but this alone is not sufficient to establish service connection.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to MST is remanded as new evidence requires a review of her psychiatric symptoms under DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for back disability is remanded as the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate and did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her back disability.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, is remanded as no sleep study has been performed to diagnose sleep apnea. The Board also notes that more information is needed about the status of her ovaries.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded due to new information indicating worsening symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for salpingo-oophoritis with removal of right ovary is remanded as more information about the status of her ovaries is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability or his acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are remanded for further evaluation.