Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused or aggravated by his active duty for training, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as service connection for neurological damage to the arms and legs, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, and osteoarthritis of the knees are denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the case can be finally adjudicated. Specifically, a VA medical opinion is required to address the Veteran's contentions regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not individually or collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions from Dr. D. Richardson of Piedmont Health Care and Dr. Landreau.

The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and the Veteran is assigned a 10% rating. The effective date of this grant is June 26, 2013. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and frostbite residuals require additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted a higher rating of 30 percent for GERD. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the point of equipoise in favor of granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ichthyosis. The Board found that the conditions pre-existed service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection for prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss will be remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to military noise exposure and granted service connection for it. However, the Board found no evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and a new VA medical opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the case due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and the Board found that his service-connected PTSD renders him unemployable due to his symptoms. The issue of tinnitus is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.