Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including tinnitus rating, service connection for a leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for dry eyes as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The claim for service connection for lumbar spine condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,The Veteran's PTSD rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy rating is remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been evaluated as noncompensable. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus the issues of increased ratings are REMANDED for further development.

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

The Board denied service connection for vertigo as secondary to tinnitus, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition first manifested during active duty and is related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board has determined that the remand directives were not followed and another remand is necessary to ensure a complete record for decision on the Veteran's claims, particularly regarding service connection for mental health disability.

Additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus. The Board requires that federal records and private treatment records be obtained.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including an eating disorder leading to obesity) may require a VA examination due to his reported sleep habits in service, but more information is needed from the medical records.,Insomnia needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,A bilateral ankle disability needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's low back disability may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported injury in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Sciatica needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's headache disability (including migraines) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability and in-service event are established. The Board found the evidence to be at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The hearing loss case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to noise during combat.,Tinnitus, which the Veteran testified he experienced since his time in Vietnam, was also granted service connection as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, while the remaining issues (left ankle pain, acoustic neuroma, PTSD, and dysthymia) were withdrawn by the Veteran during his February 2022 Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating increase for tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's heart disability, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The Veteran's service records do not indicate he had any ongoing problems with these conditions while in service and there is no other competent medical evidence suggesting an association to service.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from April 22, 2016, to September 21, 2020. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.