Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, left and right knee disabilities, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to properly request a DRO review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability under VA criteria, with an increase in hearing loss during service.

The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD, effective June 9, 2014. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD are also set at June 9, 2014.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The reduction of disability benefits for bilateral cataracts from 10 percent to noncompensable effective September 1, 2012, was proper. The Veteran's entitlement to a compensable rating for cataracts from September 1, 2012 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain and denied service connection for tinnitus. The claim for left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowed, and his peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities are each rated at 30 percent. The TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to be related to service. High cholesterol is not a disability for VA purposes. The acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), including unspecified depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder, is also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and specific phobia.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disability (including colon cancer), kidney disability (including kidney failure), and diabetes. The evidence did not establish an in-service event or incident that caused these conditions.,The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his claimed disabilities.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was insufficient evidence to show that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include generalized anxiety disorder), and PTSD due to additional evidentiary development being necessary.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal before a decision was made, thus all issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as a review of existing evidence. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a condition of the legs manifested by cramping and muscle aches, and a bilateral foot condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings due to incomplete records, including missing STRs and audiometric test results. The Veteran is also required to provide additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, as it began during active duty and there was noise exposure. The Board granted the claim for service connection due to the presumption of chronicity.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not related to service.,His multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement are rated at 10% and no higher rating is granted.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of spinal fusion is remanded.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%, but a higher rating is not granted.,An effective date earlier than October 13, 1970 for the award of service connection for multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement and an effective date earlier than December 5, 2013 for tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.