Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The left knee arthritis claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including increased ratings for PTSD and tinnitus, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than June 30, 2015, for service connection were denied. The appeals for the remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for limitation of flexion of the right forearm and cubital tunnel syndrome, right have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder (pulmonary fibrosis) has been remanded as there is no diagnosis provided in the record.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and left elbow disability have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than November 10, 2014, for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for cubital tunnel syndrome, right has been remanded as there are outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for migraine headaches have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The left and right ear hearing loss disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, tension headaches, and a right shoulder condition due to his withdrawal during the September 2019 hearing.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there was no in-service injury, disease or event related to tinnitus and the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of tinnitus during service. The hearing loss that is currently present is not a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His heart disability and tinnitus are currently rated as 60 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, as he did not meet the DSM criteria. The reduction in his lumbar spine rating from 40% to 20% effective September 3, 2015 was found to be proper due to improvement evidenced by more restricted range of motion and increased radiculopathy.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left shoulder disorders have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not shown, and the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension for additional development.,Service connection is not granted for bilateral tinnitus as it did not manifest in service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, but his claim for type II diabetes mellitus was granted with a rating of 100% effective from the date of his separation from active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a digestive disability other than GERD (constipation and irritable colon syndrome), and hemorrhoids have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.