Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected disabilities, specifically ischemic heart disease, PTSD, diabetes, hearing loss and tinnitus, or chronic migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection was denied as the evidence did not show that he attempted to reopen his claim before June 2011, and thus the earliest effective date is June 10, 2011.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no current disability found in either case, with the exception that the Board accepts the Veteran's assertions of noise exposure during service. For hearing loss, the evidence does not show a current disability. For tinnitus, the claim fails due to lack of nexus between service and onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and denied service connection for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The initial rating for lumbar strain was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, and the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to unresolved issues regarding service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and residuals of prostatic adenocarcinoma due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's claims are now reopened, but further examination is needed to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it had its onset in service and has persisted since.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU.

The appeal seeking service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, to include as due to agent orange exposure, is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's syndrome are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of aggravation beyond natural progression.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder, right and left knee conditions, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence or lack of opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The hearing loss is considered direct, while the tinnitus is secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.