Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding private and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and requested an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims except for the Veteran's TDIU claim, which was granted.

The Board has decided that a new examination and etiology opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, as there is an internal inconsistency in the examiner's notes regarding when the tinnitus began.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be earlier than June 12, 2013. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected PTSD, as well as claims for various other disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the need for updated medical examinations and opinions regarding the severity of PTSD and the etiology of asthma.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, as the Veteran's continuous reporting of ringing in his ears since service supports a finding that it began during active duty. Service connection is denied for hemorrhoids and headaches (migraines), as there is no evidence showing they were caused by or related to service.,Service connection was not established for hemorrhoids because the condition existed prior to service, with documentation of treatment in 1987 before the Veteran's enlistment. The current condition is considered a natural progression beyond what would be expected from pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, which began during service and continued since then, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, including as secondary to tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection as they were incurred during his military service. The left knee injury is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing VA treatment records from 2004 to present. The Veteran's complete VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Board also found no evidence of continuous symptoms since service separation or chronicity of disease from service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion on their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his long-standing ringing in his ears. Service connection was denied for hearing loss of the left ear due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2012. However, beginning on April 17, 2012, his combined disability rating was 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an initial compensable rating for a cervical spine disability, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from May 6, 2016 for the same condition have all been denied. The claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the record is not ready for appellate review due to incomplete information, and it is therefore REMANDED for further development.