Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus have rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure and remanded for further examination of his PTSD and right ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, depressive disorder, and agoraphobia) based on in-service noise exposure and symptoms that have persisted since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional clarification and evidence.

The Veteran's right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot cold weather injury residuals are all granted as service connected.,His degenerative arthritis of the spine is also granted as service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic otitis media with mastoiditis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under VA regulations.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran is already in receipt of the highest schedular ratings available for each condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of the May 1969 and August 1970 rating decisions denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, respectively, on the grounds that there was no clear and unmistakable error in applying the statutory and regulatory provisions at the time.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 31, 1971 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.,Service connection for a recurrent thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its onset or relationship to service.,Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, low back pain with cauda equina syndrome and degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and neurogenic bladder have all been granted service connection.,The VA examiner found no nexus between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current disabilities, but the Board affords this opinion low probative value due to its inadequacy.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to December 20, 2000 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral knee condition due to the appellant's withdrawal. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The cases of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and MDD, entitlement to service connection for varicose veins, and entitlement to service connection for right ankle condition are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to service-connected bilateral flat feet. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.,For his right shoulder strain, right elbow condition, frostbite on feet, and nasal and ear conditions, the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.,VA has not received complete service treatment and personnel records for the Veteran's Army National Guard service. The specific dates of all ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service periods performed by the Veteran during his Army National Guard service have also not been verified.,The Board is remanding to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment and personnel records, as well as the specific dates for all ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service periods performed by the Veteran during his Army National Guard service. The appellant must be notified of any negative replies.,VA has not received the Veteran's terminal treatment records from North Caddo Medical Center, which are necessary to determine the cause of death. These records should be requested on remand.,The Board is also remanding for the purpose of determining whether service connection can be established for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his tinnitus as secondary to this condition is also granted.