Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right-hand burn residuals, as well as their impact on his occupational and daily functioning. The claims are not about service connection but rather about rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CAD, DM II, HTN, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (claimed as lower lumbar condition), right foot condition, and left foot condition is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (claimed as lower lumbar condition), right foot condition, and left foot condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a need for further examination and development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for traumatic brain injury due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The other claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it was shown to be related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted, with the opinion that it began during active service.,Service connection for left knee tendonitis and obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is granted. The DEA claim is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and left heel spur are service-connected, as is fibromatosis of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. The claim for asthma secondary to allergic rhinitis is also granted.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral pseudophakia and macula scar is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the claims are remanded due to need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hemorrhoids and tinnitus due to additional development being required. The Veteran's active duty records do not document hemorrhoids, but he reported having them during his deployment in 2003-2004. Tinnitus was also claimed as a result of noise exposure during this period. Additional VA and private treatment records are needed for both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. However, his TDIU claim is remanded to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration due to his employment history and vocational consultant opinion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disability was granted. Service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for left ankle disability were also granted, while the issues regarding PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 2, 2011. The evidence showed other disabilities affecting his ability to work, such as varicose veins and depression.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is also granted, with the condition being secondary to obesity caused by his right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of prior claims or reasonable interpretations thereof, the current disability ratings are appropriate, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has the skills and experience to perform sedentary jobs such as a bidding contractor or headhunter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back condition was denied. The appeal seeking to reopen the claim for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 50 percent for headaches.,Service connection for sleep apnea, blood condition, dental condition, and abdominal scar were all denied.

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

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for right leg radiculopathy, tinnitus, and back disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding right leg radiculopathy. The claims for tinnitus and back disability were denied because no earlier claim was filed.