Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded due to lack of evidence to verify in-service stressors.

The Veteran's GAD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The TDIU claim has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of various conditions, including a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board has found that additional attempts must be made to locate and obtain missing military personnel and service treatment records from March 1995 until July 2000 in order to confirm whether the Veteran suffered his claimed injuries in the line of duty. The Board also notes that the Veteran did not appear for his VA examinations due to medical travel restrictions.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, high cholesterol, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right knee disability, back disability, left knee disability, left hand disability, and right hand disability.