Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as well as his claim to reopen. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease in both lower extremities, skin lesions on both legs, hypertension with edema, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service treatment records do not contain any mention of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist sprain and osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 5214. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed to be insufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a hernia and entitlement to TDIU due to the lack of competent medical evidence linking any current hernia disability to service. The Veteran's other service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus, pleural abnormalities due to asbestos exposure, and genital warts are all granted service connection. His hypertension is presumed to be related to service.,Service connection for cluster headaches on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. His PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. A TDIU rating has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition. The reasons include obtaining SSA records, scheduling examinations, and addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of OSA, GERD, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition have also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his active duty service and his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current tinnitus is considered to be related to his in-service noise exposure, while the hearing loss is not.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuity of symptoms since service, under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated VA records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service acoustic trauma. Tinnitus is secondary to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss. PTSD is linked to combat stressors experienced during service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 14, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 14, 2013, is also granted.

The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. Service connection is also granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, sleep disorder, and GERD are all remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed (10%) and there is no legal basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence suggesting that his assertions about these conditions may not have been accurately documented in previous examinations.