Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability or a link to service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous reports of having had tinnitus since service are credible and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the claims are still remanded as a VA examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, sudden right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded to determine the nature of the Veteran's labyrinthitis (including vertigo and Meniere’s disease) and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the issue of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. These matters need to be addressed again due to incomplete or unclear information.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating claim for a heart disability is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been rated at 70%, 40%, and 10% respectively. The VA has restored the 70% rating for depressive disorder effective February 1, 2017, and granted a TDIU from September 17, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of tinnitus has been denied as the condition is already rated at its maximum. The request for an earlier effective date for service connection due to tinnitus has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss is considered direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus was also found to be related to in-service noise exposure. For PTSD, the Veteran's current diagnosis of anxiety disorder is linked to his military experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus is related to service.,The Veteran's chronic renal condition, characterized as chronic kidney disease stage three with left kidney stone, is remanded due to lack of an examination. The examiner must determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition is attributable to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder) is remanded for a VA mental health examination. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has found that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating for tinnitus prior to July 20, 2017 was denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, while his tinnitus is rated at 10% effective from July 20, 2017.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, unspecified gastritis, and migraines have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left leg condition, right leg condition, obstructive sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, and asthma are remanded.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine if service connection can be granted. The Veteran's claims will be returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus due to the absence of VA treatment records from 2001 to the present. These records are needed to make a determination on the merits.