Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his inability to perform daily activities independently.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical treatment at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital is denied because the condition was not a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection was denied as the earliest effective date is October 31, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 13, 2014 for service connection of tinnitus was also denied due to lack of evidence indicating he wished to file such a claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and thyroid condition has been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has denied reopening of claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, but has remanded the issues of increased rating for major depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination, as the Veteran is incarcerated and unable to provide relevant information.

The Board has remanded the case for an examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The current evidence does not establish a clear link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims for tinnitus and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were dismissed. The Board also denied increased ratings for her degenerative arthritis of the left knee and meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis of the right knee, but granted a separate rating of 10 percent for painful extension of each knee. Service connection was denied for tinnitus, sleep apnea, herniated cervical disc, and lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence supports the reopening of the claim, but denied service connection due to lack of a nexus between current tinnitus and active service. The Veteran is not entitled to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or automobile/adaptive equipment benefits.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his in-service noise exposure and there is no credible evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, specifically whether they are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim of CUE in the April 1996 rating decision and an earlier effective date for tinnitus. Both issues must be remanded to the RO.