Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and vertigo are related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a current bilateral foot disorder attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The decision grants these claims based on direct evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher schedular and extraschedular rating for tinnitus, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination for his service-connected IVDS and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on tinnitus, hearing loss, and coronary artery disease was withdrawn. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder effective from May 6, 2011, the date of his claim. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus was denied as there are no factors warranting extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right leg condition. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until the remanded issues are resolved.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also found that there was at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis are related to his military service, but did not make a determination on whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, with the medical opinions supporting this finding. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active service. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination during which he can provide a full history of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for tinnitus, a sleep disability, high blood pressure, a gastrointestinal disability (ulcerative colitis), or a headache disability. The acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, erectile dysfunction (secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2), and right wrist disorder claimed as hand injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 7, 2013 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus due to a liberalizing change in law.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a nexus between noise exposure in service and current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuous post-service symptoms of these conditions, which are considered to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.