Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded for further action.,Tinnitus was granted service connection, but the rating remains at 10 percent.,Sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, chronic neck pain, erectile dysfunction, right inguinal hernia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further review.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations. The right ear hearing loss case is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, and right ankle disability as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee pain due to lack of a medical nexus.

The Veteran's bilateral degenerative 1st MTP joint disease with right hallux valgus and bilateral calcaneal spur, tinnitus, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and bilateral pes planus (also claimed as flat feet) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral sacroiliac joint and for pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is related to his service-connected disabilities and if it is aggravated by them. The AOJ must obtain a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for asthma, entitlement to service connection for malaria, entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), entitlement to an initial compensable rating of bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to a total rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is due to the failure to comply with the duty to assist in obtaining relevant records.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to incomplete opinions regarding etiology. The Veteran's service records show exposure to noise during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.,For the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral glaucoma, additional development is needed as per the remand instructions.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and foot conditions have been denied. The RO has also remanded the cases regarding bone spurs of the feet and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates for various service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, sleep apnea, nerve problems (to include left side paralysis), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are dismissed as without legal merit.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 2, 2010 did not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). However, her claim is being remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have been continuous since then. The decision is based on direct service connection due to exposure to loud noise during active duty.

The Board denied the appeal because the Veteran's August 2016 substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the April 2014 rating decision is final.

The Veteran's asbestosis is granted with a non-compensable rating, and his tinnitus is granted based on service connection. The Board found that the Veteran experienced significant noise exposure during service which likely caused his tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus, as it is unclear whether the Veteran currently has tinnitus and if so, whether it is related to his service-connected hearing loss.