Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it originated during active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ear disorder to include bleeding of the ears are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Low back, left leg, head trauma, and acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD) are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, tinnitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left ear hearing loss. His combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds it necessary to remand the issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of opinion on impact on work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision problems, a mental health disability, and tinnitus need further development due to the lack of a VA examination in these matters.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia and GERD, right knee strain, right eye pinguecula, and right eye open angle glaucoma prior to April 22, 2015 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced during active duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible reports of experiencing chronic tinnitus since service and continuous symptoms after service are sufficient to establish a link between his current condition and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's headache disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective June 2, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis of the right hip was granted, with a finding that it is at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU since April 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) to include as secondary to service-connected tinnitus is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and atrial fibrillation due to in-service exposure. The issues are intertwined with his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

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

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was granted. The Board found that new evidence supported the reopening of his previously denied claims and established service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected TBI and/or tinnitus. The RO is instructed to obtain private treatment records, provide a VA examiner with the claims file for an opinion on causation and aggravation of headaches, and then readjudicate the claim.

The Board denied service connection for vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran did not have a compensable eye disability related to his period of service. His hearing loss was not shown to be caused by noise exposure during service. Tinnitus is not linked to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was denied for vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.