Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a right hand disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, so the cases are dismissed.

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 noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first began during service and has continued since separation, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, right shoulder disability, neck disability, back disability, and right knee disability for further development as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. Service connection for the other conditions (left shoulder, tinnitus, and pilonidal cyst) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, hearing loss disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), heart palpitations, and a disability of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) including grinding of teeth.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Meniere’s Disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BBPV), finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for it. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no current disability found by VA standards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Whipple’s disease, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression and anxiety) secondary to Whipple’s disease with CNS involvement due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for callus formation, left foot is denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression, anxiety) has been reopened and remains pending. The claims for service connection for TMJ, migraines, dizziness, neck condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during his service and has persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee injury, erectile dysfunction, joint and muscle condition (Gulf War related health complications), depression, right knee injury, herniated disc, tinnitus, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been granted. A 50% rating has been assigned for generalized anxiety disorder.