Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is at least as likely as not incurred during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, including a lack of VA treatment records and an unclear opinion from the August 2016 VA examiner. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with another VA examination.

All pending claims for service connection and increased ratings are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA must obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from July 2016 and any other identified VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his headaches due to head injury is denied, and the case is remanded for further action regarding total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide VA treatment records from January 25, 2005 to August 4, 2017. The appeal is being remanded due to this missing information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with residuals, chronic myositis of the para-cervical and para-lumbar spine muscles, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, absence seizures, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, including any National Guard or Reserve service, and all updated treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's seizure disability and major depressive disorder are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 70% rating for his major depressive disorder prior to July 15, 2015. He also receives TDIU benefits prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right shoulder disorder, a neck disorder, a low back/lumbar spine disorder, dyslipidemia, and erectile dysfunction.,The Board found that there is no evidence of complaints or diagnoses related to the claimed conditions during service. The weight of the competent and probative evidence does not support finding that any current condition had its onset in or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. For the hearing loss claim, the Board has found that VA treatment records need to be obtained and a new VA audiological examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a healed left foot fracture has been dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's conditions were aggravated during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus and migraines were not incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection for migraines was denied as the condition did not have its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions provided in the July 2015 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was granted as his statements and VA examination findings supported a finding that he had experienced tinnitus since service. For the sinusitis claim, the Board found an error in not addressing the theory of entitlement based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for enlarged prostate is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination addressing its relationship to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records and arrange a new VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is pending due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted, but her hearing loss claim remains under review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bulging and deteriorating discs in the back, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's assertions of injury during service have been met, and further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.