Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has not fully addressed the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The case is being returned to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is caused by his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of hearing loss service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from December 9, 2014 to February 11, 2015. The issue of TDIU since February 12, 2015, is dismissed as moot due to a grant of a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection is also remanded for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there is insufficient information in the current records to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions. The issues include tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left arm, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, low back pain, hearing loss in both ears, carpal tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy, vision problems, and headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The lung disorder claim is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as the evidence shows a link between in-service noise exposure and his current condition, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to noise during military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of loss of sense of smell, thus the claim for this condition is denied.,Headaches with amnesia are not service-connected because there is insufficient evidence linking these symptoms to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of clarity in the May 2013 VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran asserts that his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during military service, specifically from small arms fire as a military policeman.

The Veteran's malaria was deemed inactive and resolved without any residuals, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s service-connected conditions to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her low back disability is denied. The Board found that the objective medical findings did not support a higher rating, despite the Veteran's reported symptoms and functional limitations. Her claim for TDIU was granted as she met the schedular requirements and had service-connected disabilities rated at least 60% combined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus rating is increased to 20 percent, effective November 19, 2009. The Veteran's amputated left index finger and prostate cancer residuals are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of in-service audiological testing, and to obtain additional VA records and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to service-connected hearing loss. The right eye disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.