Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining more than marginal employment, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied, with the Board finding that any condition began decades after service and not related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus and ischemic heart disease have been granted service connection. The Veteran has also been awarded a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. Additionally, the Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, bronchitis, and asthma are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the fractured proximal joint right great toe with degenerative arthritis since July 7, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bladder cancer are granted service connection, as they are presumed to be related to his Vietnam-era service. The cause of death due to metastatic bladder cancer is also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,PTSD service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if it preexisted service and was aggravated by service.,Bilateral hearing loss service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric standards used in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.,Tinnitus secondary to PTSD or a service-connected disability is remanded due to its intertwining with the PTSD claim and need for a new VA examination.,Hypertension service connection is remanded as there are no audiometric readings provided in the April 2015 VA examination, requiring conversion from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards. Additionally, it needs a VA examination to determine if it is secondary to PTSD or medication for any service-connected condition.,Gastrointestinal and acid reflux conditions service connection are remanded as they are intertwined with the PTSD claim and need a new VA examination.,Vertigo service connection is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and a skin condition due to herbicide exposure are denied. The Board has remanded the Veteran's PTSD and hypertension claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee pain and inflammation, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the merits of the claim as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hypertension has been granted. Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The appeals for service connection for skin cancer of the nose, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted on October 31, 2008. The effective date of this grant is also October 31, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise during his military duties.