Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The issues of service connection for loss of teeth, sleep apnea, low back injury, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy (all secondary to a low back injury) are also granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C was upheld.

Tinnitus was present within one year of discharge and presumed to have been incurred during active duty, thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed, and the claim for a compensable rating for GERD is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by meningoencephalitis, which the Board found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The appeal for VA pension benefits is remanded as the Veteran did not meet the required war-time service requirements. Service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for new examinations to determine their etiology.

The reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 0 percent effective January 1, 2017 was proper. The discontinuation of TDIU effective January 1, 2017 was not proper.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and vasodepressor syncope. The Veteran's claim for hypertension was remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 11, 2014 for service connection of pancreatitis, DM2, PTSD with secondary ETOH, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for effective date prior to February 11, 2013 for service connection of CAD has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and other conditions. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU since September 27, 2011.,Prior to September 27, 2011, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not meet the threshold requirements for a schedular TDIU. However, the evidence suggests that his service-connected disabilities may impact his employability and should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a lung disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, or bilateral tinnitus. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability and associated neurological disorders have been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of September 9, 2010.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active military service. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to insufficient medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is granted, which renders the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 moot.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for tinnitus and hernia disability as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.