Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee conditions as well as a claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, spinal scoliosis, and other physical impairments, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence supports the award of TDIU.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 29, 2008 to December 28, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for right elbow disability was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,There is no evidence of a current disability manifested by muscle spasms or bilateral hip disability. The Veteran has not been shown to have these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his right hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an examination and provide opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of tinnitus. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service exposure to loud noises, in-service onset of tinnitus symptoms, and his report of constant symptoms since onset are considered competent and probative. Therefore, without probative evidence to rebut the presumption of service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309, and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for tinnitus is established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, diverticulitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and psychiatric disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis, left shoulder, is granted as there is evidence of current disability and in-service injury. The Board finds the private physician's opinion sufficient to establish a nexus between service and current condition.,Service connection is granted for residuals of frostbite affecting all four extremities (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) due to exposure during cold weather training.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all service connection claims except for right shoulder, right ankle, and right wrist conditions. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, unspecified), and dyslipidemia. The Board finds that these claims are reopened.,No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for dyslipidemia.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, unspecified).,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his active duty service. The issue is remanded for further development.,The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and thus denies the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the Board finding that both conditions are due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower back, left knee, and tinnitus conditions due to incomplete documentation of VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his mood disorder and right knee disability. The issues include service connection requests and rating increases.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the issues of left ear and right ear hearing loss are still pending as they were remanded by the AOJ.