Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a neck disability. The decision found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during active service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was also denied for GERD as it is secondary to alcoholism, which the Board determined was due to the Veteran’s own willful misconduct.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, granted those claims, and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for low back condition, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and left hip condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence, as well as other issues related to his PTSD claim. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including SSA records, and schedule a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent, a compensable rating for his left leg scar is needed, and the VA will conduct new examinations to determine the etiology of any hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, back disabilities, knee disabilities, and cephalgia.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 1, 2010 and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 1, 2010.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral tinnitus, hypertension, anxiety disorder, depression, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,The appeal for an increased rating for the service-connected mood disorder as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

Service connection for a left ankle disability, asthma, chronic cervical strain (thoracic spine), and tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service complaints or exposure.

Tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, residuals of thyroidectomy, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are remanded for further development.,An acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and sleep disturbances due to insufficient reasons or bases in the August 2013 VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is required to provide medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not show that these conditions had their onset in service or are otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decisions were made.

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

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the Board finds that they are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced in-service noise exposure and continues to have symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether tinnitus is related to service, including as secondary to service-connected left ear hearing loss.