Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted effective January 15, 2014. The effective dates prior to this date are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted in some cases, but denied on the merits. The decisions are mixed as to whether certain conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is currently rated at 50 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of occupational and social impairment. The TDIU claim was denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, ankle, and foot disorders, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for chronic skin disorder, PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, nerve disability of the ear, heart disability, and abdominal disorder (cyclic vomiting syndrome) were granted. Service connection was established for vitiligo and denied for other conditions.

The appeal of the denials of service connection for various conditions due to herbicide exposure is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are related to his in-service parachute jumps. The tinnitus is linked to military noise exposure, and bilateral hearing loss is associated with service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU because his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus, and his hearing loss claim requires additional development including verification of ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, which he claims began during service due to noise exposure, has been granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss must be remanded to provide the Veteran with an adequate examination. The TDIU issue also needs further development, including obtaining a combined effects opinion on the impact of multiple service-connected disabilities on employment.

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

Your appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety) are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there are missing service records, including annual medical certificates, enlistment reports of medical history, and physical examination reports. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and verify all periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD due to lack of a definitive opinion.