Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the appellant's service from October 28, 1976 to April 17, 1978 was dishonorable for VA purposes due to a pattern of willful and persistent misconduct. The appeal is remanded to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in the previous determination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent effective September 9, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to his military service. However, the Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, as it was at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD and DA are granted as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DA.,Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional evidence and examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include migraine headaches, a left forehead laceration, tinea pedis of the bilateral feet, gout, sleep apnea, multiple painful joints, allergies, bilateral knee swelling with pain, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a bilateral ankle injury, an upper and lower back disorder, and tinnitus. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, as the evidence shows a diagnosis of PTSD related to military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder) is also granted, with the opinion that it is caused by PTSD.

The Veteran's previously denied skin disorder claim is reopened, and service connection for a lower back disability is granted. Service connection for psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection of tinnitus, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to noise during active service.

Service connection is granted for residuals post parotidectomy and adenomyosis. Service connection is denied for tinnitus, fibroids in uterus, and eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims, as well as denied his left ear hearing loss claim. The Veteran is found to have current disabilities of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back condition, tinnitus, and migraines (chronic headaches with prostrating attacks).,There is no evidence of any current disabilities related to the Veteran's claimed conditions that began during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee condition due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus, and remanded the remaining claims of service connection for urinary tract disability. A VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and urinary tract disabilities.

The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was effective from March 1, 2010. The Appellant is not entitled to enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2) as the Veteran did not have a continuous period of at least eight years of total disability prior to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure), and an eye condition are remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran has hearing loss that meets VA criteria, and whether his prostate cancer may be related to his service-connected thyroid disability.