Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's claims are supported by continuity of symptomatology since service. The decision also acknowledges in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and tinnitus have been granted. However, the remaining claims related to bilateral lower extremity disability, bilateral upper extremity disability, urinary disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability (secondary to left ankle), lower back disability (secondary to left ankle), bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a ruptured ear drum have been remanded for further development.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,A 10 percent rating for sacroiliitis of the right hip and a 40 percent rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety), tinnitus, but denied service connection for residuals of a TBI, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, a back disorder, residuals of burns on the neck, and migraines.

The Veteran's compound hyperopic astigmatism with presbyopia is denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The right knee and left knee disability claims are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or anxiety) due to lack of VA examination records. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again after obtaining all relevant treatment records.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to lack of new and material evidence. The appellant did not have a current psychiatric disability or any chronic psychiatric disorder at any point during the pendency of his claim.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of January 27, 2010.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 14, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus congestion (allergy syndrome), and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or etiology for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for temporary total rating due to surgical treatment and convalescence of the right knee disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The claims include service connection for various conditions such as shell fragment wound, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus condition, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, gastrointestinal condition, skin problems, and sleeping disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee arthritis is dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and sleep apnea are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding its onset during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues of chronic headaches, insomnia, GERD, deviated nasal septum, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The appeal is not about a change in evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus and coronary artery disease have been granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. The skin disorder claim remains pending as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on its etiology. Service connection for hypertension is also pending, with the issue being whether it is related to herbicide exposure. Low back and knee disorders are still under consideration.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining STRs for his Army Reserves service and an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's contention that his tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service.