Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any other compensable condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, nor was there continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The effective dates for these conditions remain at the date of receipt of the claim to reopen following the final denial in February 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a shoulder muscle condition and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, low back disability (including spinal defect), throat cancer, and bladder cancer are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed above due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus, depression prior to July 16, 2014 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, and bilateral pes planus claims were denied. The effective date for service connection for depression was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, right knee condition, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury are all granted. The PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to October 2018 and 100 percent since then.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for facial and lip lacerations was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for coronary artery disease status post heart attack is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum under applicable criteria.,Tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.,Bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable and now rated at 10 percent after January 14, 2019.,Low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is attributable to military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The appeal concerning service connection for headaches has been dismissed as moot because the benefit sought has already been granted.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD with depression, is remanded. The examiner should determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or related to his active duty service and whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with depression.,The Veteran’s claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depression is remanded. The matter of TDIU (total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability) is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for additional dependency compensation was denied because he has never been assigned a combined disability rating higher than 10 percent, which is the highest possible rating. As his tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss combine to this maximum rating, he cannot be eligible for additional benefits.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, but has found that more evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to June 7, 2018, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied.,For the period beginning June 7, 2018, an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for a lower back disability and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may be secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issues of rating PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that an expert medical opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus caused or worsened his sleep apnea. The case is remanded for further examination and analysis.