Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and high blood pressure. The claim for arthritis is not before the Board as it was not included in the May 2015 statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, but the rating for PTSD remains under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and back disability have been granted. The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and has determined that the preponderance of the evidence supports the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure to noise from helicopters, leading to current conditions. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection.,Service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, cystic skin lesions, a respiratory disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, as well as the need to adjudicate other claims inextricably intertwined with these issues.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claims for asbestos related pleural disease, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. His combined rating is currently at 70 percent.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The appeal as to service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis is dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.,Right ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.,PTSD rating in excess of 50 percent is remanded with new evidence considered.,TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence did not show in-service acoustic trauma or chronic symptoms of these conditions within one year after discharge.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's right knee condition has been reopened, but further examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions were dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure. Obstructive sleep apnea was found to be related to obesity rather than PTSD or a grenade blast. Hypertension is considered direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the disabilities did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of these conditions being related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's left ventricular hypertrophy and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, migraines, and status post left knee replacement are remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for tinea versicolor is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of in-service records and conflicting medical opinions.