Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, loss of vision, and headaches due to outstanding service personnel records, incomplete service treatment records, and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran will be afforded a new VA examination in each case.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his left ear hearing loss is denied. His hypertension due to herbicide exposure is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 27, 2018 for Meniere’s syndrome is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not include attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month or more than once weekly.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not onset during or within one year after military service. The Board also found no evidence of noise exposure causing these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records from the Veteran's former employer. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records, provide an addendum opinion by a VA examiner if necessary, and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by service-connected conditions or due to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA will seek further information about the Veteran's exposure and review medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The claims for bladder disability, cardiac disability, and kidney disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot condition is granted, including pes planus and plantar fasciitis.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA on a secondary basis due to PTSD is granted.

The Board denied service connection for temporomandibular joint disability (TMJ), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and tinnitus are reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims, but the cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for low back disability, left knee meniscal tear, and tinnitus. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service loud noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service diagnosis or exposure to noise that would support a claim of service connection. The Veteran's statements were not supported by the contemporaneous medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye disability (glaucoma), a left ankle disability, a vestibular disorder, and a heart disability are all granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to June 9, 2015, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.