Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, ischemic heart disease, a scar from heart surgery, and a residual scar on the left knee. The appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and service.,Service connection for dermatitis or eczema (claimed as dermatitis) is dismissed as already granted in a previous rating decision.,The Veteran's claims for stage IV prostate cancer with obstructive nephropathy, multiple myeloma, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are all granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.,Service connection is granted for multiple myeloma due to exposure to Agent Orange.,Service connection is granted for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal was denied because his substantive appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as low back disorder, was not timely filed. The Board also found that the VA examination related to the low back disorder was inadequate.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is remanded for a VA opinion to determine if it is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore denied service connection for all issues. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder impingement, chondromalacia patella, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by or incurred during active duty.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability, lower back condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, spleen condition, and thyroid condition due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding service treatment records from his time in the Alabama Army National Guard.

The Board denied the claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2008 decisions denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO considered the Veteran's lay statements but did not find them to be new and material evidence, leading to denial of reopening the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to continuous symptoms since service and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD.,PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient information in the current record, particularly regarding the cause of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is presumed exposed to noise during service but the exact nature and cause of his hearing loss and tinnitus are unclear.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims, including service connection for various conditions and their secondary effects.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411.,The Veteran’s service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea as they are related to service.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.