Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his diabetes mellitus is rated at 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has current bilateral tinnitus and that it is related to his in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip radiculopathy is denied. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hip radiculopathy, and therefore cannot grant service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is remanded. Further investigation into the Veteran's in-service injury and any relevant medical records are needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower left leg disability is remanded. The Board finds that further examination and testing, including nerve conduction studies, are necessary to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and any diagnosed lower left leg disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the VA audiological examination report and conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of his back disorder, right pes planus, left pes planus, and allergic sinus disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, but the issue of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a failure to provide a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and TDIU due to new evidence.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 22, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist condition, plantar fasciitis, right ankle condition, and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, tinnitus, hypertension (to include as due to service-connected major depressive disorder), and kidney disorder are all remanded. The effective date of the award of a 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder is also remanded.,Service connection for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for prostate cancer service connection and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance are being remanded due to a lack of contemporaneous medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a respiratory disorder (asthma), and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma as a jet engine mechanic.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during military service. The issue of service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to a left-leg disability, is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Meniere’s disease, Peripheral Vestibular Disorder with Transient Hearing Impairment from Meniere’s disease, and Tinnitus are all denied. The highest rating of 30 percent is assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities alone resulted in unemployability.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, partial medial collateral ligament tear of the left knee, and tinnitus. His combined service-connected disability evaluation is 80 percent from July 30, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's COPD and active service. The Veteran served in combat in Vietnam, where he was exposed to exhaust fumes and burn pits.