Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during military service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service. The claim for increased rating of left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his TDIU claim have both been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and his acquired psychiatric disorder were dismissed as the Veteran effectively withdrew his appeals through an unopposed motion to dismiss.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current disabilities and active duty service.,There was no chronic or continuous symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and the Veteran's complaints were first noted many years after separation.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of traumatic brain injury, and insomnia.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of functional impairment related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for degenerative changes, left knee with Baker’s cyst; chronic left ankle disability; seborrheic dermatitis (claimed as a skin condition due to undiagnosed illness); and hypothyroidism. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), OSA, migraine headaches, and left knee pain are all granted service connection.,Service connection for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, right leg restless leg syndrome, left leg restless leg syndrome, cervical spine osteoarthritis, and left arm radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of a timely notice of disagreement. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to December 22, 2010, but the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he has been unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since then.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ankle and foot disability and left hip disability.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and prostate cancer are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to concerns about the reliability of a whisper test at separation from service. The Veteran was exposed to loud noise during service, but his hearing was normal on separation screening.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus, but dismissed the remaining claims due to withdrawal of appeals by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, perforated left ear drum, and tinnitus will be reviewed again with additional evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety and depression). The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these conditions in service or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.