Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's self-reported history of tinnitus beginning in service and persisting since is credible. The opinion from his August 2016 VA examination was considered inadequate as it did not address whether the tinnitus could be related to service without a current hearing loss disability.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and neck disability.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for various conditions as they are not eligible due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left wrist condition are all granted. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted with a 40% disability rating, but only for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied for residuals of kidney stones, respiratory/pulmonary disorder (claimed as a lung condition), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied. A rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating since April 1, 2012 and remanded for further evaluation. Other issues related to left knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his combined disability rating is sufficient to grant a TDIU prior to August 3, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to noise in service. Supplemental medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure, and whether his tinnitus is related to noise exposure.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective February 1, 2009 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the current opinions. The Veteran's MOS was Field Artillery Fire Control, which is associated with noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there was no evidence of acoustic trauma during service and the condition did not manifest within one year after separation.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include scoliosis and lumbosacral strain, is denied because her pre-existing condition (scoliosis) was not aggravated by an in-service fall.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology, including potential service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and an initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his employability is most severely impacted by a non-service connected cerebrovascular disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it can be attributed to noise exposure during his military service and there is a continuity of symptoms since then.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional examination.