Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for lower extremity neuropathy and right upper extremity idiopathic neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a 50-50 balance of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral vestibular disorders (vertigo), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss or PTSD with major depressive disorder.,An effective date prior to September 25, 2007 for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent has already been assigned.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. Right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss in the right ear during the appeal period. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted a rating of at least 20 percent from September 28, 2009 to May 23, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 2, 2016. Therefore, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Retirement based on Unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for respiratory condition was not addressed as it is unclear if it was part of the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Meniere’s disease, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding records and need for further medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between current tinnitus and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left leg numbness associated with a bilateral hip disability. The remand requires obtaining updated VA clinical records, scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, and considering whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service in the Gulf War, specifically his deployment to Afghanistan from 2011-2012. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of recent medical records, and to obtain an updated VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right knee condition is being examined again to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his left knee disability. His hearing loss and tinnitus are also being evaluated to see if they were related to in-service noise exposure.