Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts, blood clots in lungs, sleep apnea, basal cell carcinoma, and dementia/memory loss. The reasons for remand include seeking additional medical opinions on etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms were consistent with a 60 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but the neurological disorder of the right upper extremity remains pending as it requires further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to continuous symptoms since service separation, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a 20% rating. The left ankle disability and lumbar spine disability remain at their current ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accident/stroke have been reopened. The Board has remanded these claims due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation or evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine with spondylosis and lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in June 2018.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and paranoid schizophrenia have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's appeals for left heel spurs, right heel spurs, and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.,Tinnitus has been granted as service connected.,PTSD has been granted as service connected.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, despite meeting the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential inaccuracies in the audiometric test results from his separation examination. The Veteran is asked to provide records of treatment from a private ENT physician he saw in 2011, and VA will assist in obtaining any relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his earlier effective date for right ear hearing loss disability rating is granted to February 11, 2005. The issue of an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss is denied. The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is also denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to active service.