Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea syndromes is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection based on credible evidence showing a current disability, in-service exposure to hazardous noise, and symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus likely preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU beginning August 31, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The appeal to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also granted, but service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the anal/perianal fistula claim as fecal incontinence is granted with a 60% rating. The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains at its maximum schedular rating of 30%. The issues are all resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for initial compensable disability rating for dermatitis and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the other issues related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as cervical spine and left leg disabilities, are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to his willful misconduct during active duty. The other disabilities listed are also denied as they were either caused by or aggravated by the veteran's own actions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved. The decision to remand for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the bilateral hearing loss is made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no link between his active duty service and these conditions. New evidence submitted since the September 2017 decision did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issues include evaluating the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as determining if he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including shrapnel wounds of the abdomen and right knee, TKA for his right knee, painful scars, ventral hernia, gunshot wounds to the thigh, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar from his right knee replacement, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, but granted a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective from August 30, 2017. The appeal regarding sleep apnea was denied.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it was caused by noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.