Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

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

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was granted. The Board found new and material evidence supporting these claims, including the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise during his service as an ammo handler. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to insufficient evidence linking current hearing loss to service. The claim for PTSD and depression was denied due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to her service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus, with the Board considering continuity of symptomatology and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service hearing loss, but concludes that the preponderance of the evidence weighs in favor of a finding that the Veteran has a current hearing loss disability, was exposed to noise during service, and his tinnitus is associated with his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further examination to determine if his conditions may be related to Meniere’s disease, which is a possible consequence of military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic liver condition related to Gulf War service are denied.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded by the Board.,His current service-connected conditions include right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 5, 2016 due to insufficient evidence. The matter is now referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of regular aid and attendance or permanent household status.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of cervical stenosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus for further development due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show that his hearing loss was incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as there is at least equipoise of evidence to support a finding that it was caused by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria, and no higher rating can be assigned.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diverticulosis. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records and verify any unverified periods of service, including in the Air Force.