Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for bilateral hearing loss and neurological disorder (memory loss).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 22, 2012, for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, examinations, and development of his claims. The hearing loss and tinnitus cases will be remanded solely for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence of noise exposure during service. The claims will be reviewed with a focus on whether there is a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service, taking into account the conceded acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including left knee disorder to include degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left Achilles tendon disorder, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, sleep disorder, headache disorder, and tinnitus. Additional relevant service treatment records have been received.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. The Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence does not attribute the Veteran’s tinnitus to military service.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service, and after resolving all doubt in his favor, has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are traceable to his military service. For tinnitus, the Board found credible evidence of noise exposure in service leading to current tinnitus. For PTSD, the Board accepted the Veteran's account of sexual assault during service as a stressor, despite conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss may be related to his service, but the relationship is not clear. The examiner should determine if it is at least as likely as not that the hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran must submit additional evidence to reopen these claims.,A TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis, service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, right shoulder and bilateral finger disabilities, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the lack of probative medical evidence sufficient to adjudicate these specifics.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for service connection of headaches. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and anxiety are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected tinnitus beginning January 7, 2010. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right elbow disorder and right upper extremity neuropathy are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for various conditions, including right wrist sprain, lumbar strain, hip trochanteric bursitis, ankle sprains, and headaches, are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.