Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his hearing loss claim due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's employability and functional impairment of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is still seeking TDIU based on his cardiac disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's claim regarding a proposed reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent is remanded. The matter of whether he warrants a higher disability rating since April 2016 will also be addressed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded and the VA Director of Compensation Service must consider an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The initial rating for his CAD is granted at 30 percent prior to January 20, 2017 and denied thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee, ear hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and carpal tunnel disabilities may be related to service. However, due to lack of medical evidence on record regarding these claims, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Veteran's vertigo disability is granted with a 30 percent rating. The remaining issues, including low back and left knee disabilities, migraines, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service which caused these disabilities.,Service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome is also granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include mental health disorders, sleep apnea, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, kidney cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's self-reported symptoms are credible and consistent with his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an acquired psychiatric disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for post-concussive headaches is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.,The effective date for the award of a 10 percent disability rating for tinnitus cannot be earlier than June 19, 2011 due to the liberalizing law enacted in 1999. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied as it does not meet the legal criteria.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with major depression is remanded and will be addressed separately.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim of reopening his service connection for sinusitis has also been granted, but the issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for TIA or cerebrovascular accident with memory loss due to hypertension medication is still pending.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disability, tinnitus, blurry vision, strokes and residuals thereof, headaches, dizziness, and fainting episodes are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The Veteran is also seeking an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected.,Left ear hearing loss has been rated as Level VI, the highest non-compensable rating available.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, seizure disorder, and depression due to incomplete records. The Veteran is advised to obtain new representation if desired.

The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for tinnitus (including as secondary to BHL) is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to loud noises without adequate protection.