Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, as his other conditions do not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening his previously denied claims. The Board found that he failed to appear for VA examinations on two separate occasions without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is denied. The current noncompensable rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for a left thumb disability was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for loss of sense of smell was reopened and granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left heel achilles tendon tear, right heel disability secondary to left heel achilles tendon tear, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran was not on active duty or inactive duty at the time of his 1988 injury, thus precluding service connection for the left heel condition. The Board also denied the claim for right heel disability as it was not proximately due to the left heel condition. For tinnitus, the Board conceded noise exposure in service and found that the Veteran's lay assertions supported a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, these issues are remanded as additional development is needed to determine the current severity of PTSD, etiology of sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, nature and etiology of bilateral knee disorders, and whether a TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions within one year post-service, and the VA examiner concluded that current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for service connection of vision impairment and the effective dates earlier than February 27, 2013, for bilateral hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability other than tinea corporis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to unclear evidence regarding current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as well as insufficient information on the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is acknowledged, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is denied because it is not related to his active service and cannot be presumed to be so related.,The Veteran's left knee disorder is denied because it is not related to his active service and cannot be presumed to be so related.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his condition does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to September 21, 2017 and 50 percent thereafter. The effective date for the 50 percent rating remains unchanged at September 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a neck disability, and hiatal hernia with GERD are all remanded. The Board will consider new evidence submitted since the last final rating decisions to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's exposure to noise during military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities or any in-service exposure to herbicides caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's seizure disorder, anxiety disorders, tinnitus, and headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected TBI.,Service connection for PTSD is granted based on credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied, and he was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.