Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10% since September 6, 2016. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The issues of service connection for chronic right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression and PTSD), but the remaining issues related to GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, and gastroenteritis are remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and PTSD, is also service-connected based on a verified stressor.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for left ankle disability. The issues include right ankle disability, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The decision on service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities may be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service, but further verification from JSRRC is needed. Service connection will be remanded for this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Board has also remanded cases related to pinched C6 nerve, bilateral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and lower back disability are service-connected. However, additional evidence is needed to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder (likely including PTSD, anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder) and sciatic nerve disability are also service-connected.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions that did not reconcile findings from the separation examination or explain how hearing loss can improve.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current ringing in his ears is more likely than not related to military noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to service, including as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he has been employed full-time for over 25 years. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a left cheek cyst removal are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The Board has found an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, stroke, facial numbness, right leg numbness, hypertension, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional review of new VA treatment records submitted since the last Statement of the Case. The issues include rating and service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, tinnitus, laceration of the right eye, skin rash (itching), headaches secondary to the laceration, vision loss, ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, hypertension to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, sleep apnea to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, hyperechoic liver mass to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher initial rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for further evidentiary development.