Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee replacement, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have impacted his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has remanded several issues for further development.

The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the appeal is denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating, TDIU and service connection for cause of death due to the Veteran's left femoral nerve palsy. The appellant is seeking a retrospective medical opinion on the nature, extent, and severity of all residual impairment stemming from the Veteran’s left femoral nerve palsy. Additionally, she wants an opinion regarding whether any of her service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for skin cancer is granted, but the claim itself is denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records, including a lack of Reserve service STRs. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is being reviewed again as new evidence was received after the March 2015 rating decision. For the psychiatric disorder claim, there are concerns about corroborating stressors related to in-service events.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with a 50% rating. The service connection claims for the skin condition on the feet (claimed as jungle rot) and back disability are also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since February 20, 2007, finding that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the RO did not make adequate attempts to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, and therefore, the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear tinnitus was dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere’s disease are remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for cervical degenerative disc disease with arthritis, tinnitus, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of noise exposure during service, which is considered sufficient to establish service connection for his current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 26, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the March 2019 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran was not afforded a VA examination for hearing loss or tinnitus, and one is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple gunshot wounds and resulting injuries, have rendered him unable to work due to severe physical limitations. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. Tinnitus is found to have originated in service, while bilateral hearing loss is secondary to the service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.