Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there are conflicting opinions regarding their etiology. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus should be allowed under more than one theory of entitlement. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to her military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards of his daily environment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, left ear tinnitus, and left ear high frequency deficiency have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence strongly suggests his disabilities are significant enough to preclude him from maintaining or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no evidence of a claim prior to March 20, 2013 for tinnitus service connection. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. The Veteran was awarded service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected post-concussional syndrome with cerebellar dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of tinnitus should be September 10, 2009.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being in the file, which may substantiate the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of such a higher evaluation. The effective date remains pending.

The Veteran requested an increased evaluation for spondylosis and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right eye disorder. At the November 2017 hearing, he withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right eye disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his period of active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have tinnitus that was incurred during his active duty service, within one year thereafter, or as a result of said service or any event, injury or disease that he experienced or incurred therein. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the Board found that his conditions did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and he did not meet the criteria for service connection on any of the other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The VA audiological examinations did not find any nexus between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder condition is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are intertwined with the left shoulder condition claim.