Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney and bladder problems, as well as tinnitus. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

Your claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss have been granted by the Appeals Management Center in a November 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, thus the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound were not met.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 27, 2004 for the 10 percent evaluation of tinnitus. The decision was based on a finding that there was clear and unmistakable error in not assigning an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, and his tinnitus disability was rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder prior to April 6, 2017 was rated at 30 percent, but from that date forward it is rated at 50 percent. The appeal for a higher rating remains denied.,No specific service connection theory or exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD, finding new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for lower back pain, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, migraines, tinnitus, and maxillary sinusitis have been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, warranting the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the Veteran indicating he would like to withdraw his appeal for the issue of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder and sleep disorder), but this issue is being remanded due to a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are related to service, with the exception of his left ear hearing loss which is not considered aggravated by service. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Additional claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but since the condition is already in effect, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, and bilateral pes planus with bilateral calcaneal spurs contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The Board finds that these conditions alone are sufficient for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service and the Board finds that service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded the case to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to December 15, 2008 for the award of additional compensation for his two dependent children as VA was not notified of their existence prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and ischemic heart disease are associated with his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.