Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spondylosis. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination regarding brain demyelination, hearing loss, numbness and pain claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right arms, increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for dextroscoliosis of the lumbar spine and a cervical spine condition to include as secondary to dextroscoliosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and COPD, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his severe mental incapacity and physical limitations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder due to outstanding evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied as it already meets the maximum schedular rating. The case is remanded to determine if secondary service connection for left knee arthritis can be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a low back disability manifested by pain (other than that contemplated by already service-connected muscle and joint stiffness based on widespread musculoskeletal pain) that is etiologically related to his period of active duty service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to acoustic trauma in service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hearing loss (claimed as left ear condition), PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral eye disability (diabetic retinopathy and loss of vision), and sleep disorder with fatigue. The issue of service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, with a disability rating of 50 percent. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service or his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that there is a reasonable medical nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, or nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it related to acoustic trauma during service. However, the Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus prior to November 6, 2012 are denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service due to noise exposure from aircraft propeller and engine work.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied.,Service connection for a back disability and headaches is denied as the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since July 2, 2014, and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for left foot pes planus with corns and hammer toes, as well as initial compensable ratings for right foot pes planus with corns and hammer toes are remanded due to conflicting medical evidence.