Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and employment information. A VA examination will also be scheduled to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion on the etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a 10 percent initial evaluation for nightmare disorder. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has ordered further development of the record, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's tinnitus is aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be deferred.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied as he does not require regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by VA medical opinions. The preponderance of evidence supports a denial of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no current diagnosis or credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for additional development of his employment history.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various lower extremity conditions are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss or tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not etiologically related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for concurrent retirement and disability pay (CRDP) was denied as the effective date of his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is August 25, 2013. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a retroactive CRDP beyond this date.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been found to render him unemployable, as they preclude substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine and assigned a temporary 100% evaluation based on hospitalization and convalescence for brain tumor removal surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dermatitis (claimed as skin rash due to herbicide exposure), residuals of left eye strabismus surgery, and both right and left knee osteoarthritis. The appeals were decided on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary theory.