Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was pending and unadjudicated prior to July 6, 2015. The effective date of the award is set at April 28, 1975, which is the day after his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and a presumption of such exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to incomplete evidence.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him incapable of performing daily activities or require regular aid and attendance. The Board denied SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is set at June 27, 2014. The Veteran’s bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, right 4th proximal phalanx fracture with bony exostosis is granted an increased rating effective from the date of his claim (June 27, 2014).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if her current conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms to be inconsistent.,The Veteran's lower back and left hip disabilities are not considered to have been incurred in service due to a lack of continuity of symptomatology, as there is no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year after separation. The Board also finds that the Veteran did not seek treatment for his current right elbow disability until 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during service due to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, undress, or bathe himself as a result of his disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while tinnitus is considered a symptom of the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 40% and 10%, respectively, effective October 30, 2009. The decision also denied any requests for earlier effective dates.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied, and his claim for service connection for right lower extremity tarsal tunnel syndrome is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions, and the need for updated medical records and proper notice under secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service. The case is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations to address the etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability has been reopened, but the effective date remains August 13, 2014.,An earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied as no evidence prior to August 13, 2014 indicates an intent to pursue this claim.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as he withdrew his appeals in May 2016. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 26, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it is a result of noise exposure during his first period of military service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.