Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and therefore service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition as due to service-connected right knee condition, and back condition as due to service-connected right knee condition. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was not granted because the Veteran's tinnitus does not meet the criteria for an increased schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260, and extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records, as well as examinations to determine the existence and etiology of various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active duty and consistent testimony regarding continuity of symptoms since service discharge support a finding that his tinnitus began in service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of probative evidence linking the condition to service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition to include GERD, right hand and thumb injured in service to include arthritis, and low back condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran had onset of tinnitus during service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the condition was caused by in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as he does not meet the schedular requirements and has not provided information about his employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (manifested as arrhythmia) and hypertension was granted, with the latter being aggravated by diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his claim for bilateral flat feet due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination in 2015. The Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and symptomatology will be considered, along with audiograms from his military records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service, with the exception of a March 2013 letter from Dr. N.O., which was not given much weight due to lack of review of the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, low back disability, otitis media, left ear pain, TBI, neurologic complications (panic attacks and night sweats), and nervous disability. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular level, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran’s prostate disorder is currently rated 20 percent disabling, and a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.,The Veteran’s psychiatric disorder is currently rated 30 percent disabling, but a higher rating of 50 percent or more is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, scarring (penis), migraine headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are denied as the evidence does not establish a current disability or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for scarring is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a scar. The Veteran had a scar during service but it has resolved, leaving only hypertrophic skin.,The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded as the evidence does not establish a relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent since March 10, 2003. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. Service connection for a back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (to include as secondary to a back disability) is remanded.