Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral cataracts and a skin disability are pending. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus.,VA has granted the Veteran an effective date of October 5, 2010 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease due to his service-connected disabilities in combination. Effective March 4, 2002, VA also granted a TDIU based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings remains pending and will be addressed by the Board.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his award of service connection for coronary artery disease. The Board finds that no earlier effective date than March 4, 2002 is assignable due to lack of a prior formal or informal claim within one year of separation from service.,VA has granted the Veteran's TDIU based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder and granted it, but denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.,Right knee osteoarthritis was found not incurred in or related to active duty. Tinnitus was also found not incurred in or related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss were denied, but new evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia and tinnitus are attributable to his active duty service, granting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service and the Board finds that it is related to his military service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining STRs and arranging for an audiological evaluation to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and oral cancers are related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The decision is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it was incurred during his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current hearing disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD), bilateral foot disorder, cervical spine disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee/leg disorder, left knee/leg disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Board found no current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current diagnoses of these conditions are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during or within a year after his separation from service. His claims for increased ratings for shoulder disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are presumed to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his residuals of abdominal aneurysm repair surgery caused additional disability not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 9413. The other conditions have not been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is supported by competent medical evidence and his lay testimony. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further development before being decided on appeal.