Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were all granted service connection. However, the Veteran was denied increased ratings for his PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The aortic aneurysm, hearing loss, tinnitus, and cataracts issues are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to May 29, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military noise exposure and granting the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and she meets the schedular requirements for assignment of a TDIU.,Her initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent as there is no basis in the law for awarding a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service. The Veteran worked in a noisy environment during her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied.,All other issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service. The appeal regarding neuropathy is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service, including noise exposure.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. For the period prior to March 3, 2015, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,For the period since March 3, 2015, a higher initial rating than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service. The effective date of the award of service connection for these conditions is October 14, 2013. An increased rating for left hand disability was granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, facial disfigurement with scars, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it arose during active service. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is dismissed.,Issues related to TBI residuals and bilateral vision disability, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and increased ratings for depressive disorder and PTSD are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have manifested within one year of his separation from service and is not attributable to intercurrent causes, thus granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and ED are denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection of bilateral pes planus, right eye astigmatism, schizophrenia, tinnitus, and a right leg condition due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a right leg condition was also REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for prostate cancer and urinary disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to a request from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for relevant records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there was no in-service event or injury and the condition did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's claim for effective dates prior to August 27, 2013 for grants of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and major depressive disorder was denied as there is no legal basis for such a retroactive assignment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.