Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the regulatory thresholds for an award of a schedular TDIU rating. However, his claim may be considered on an extra-schedular basis due to the functional impairment resulting from his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to maintain or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for earlier effective dates due to the receipt of additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for residuals of a left toe fracture is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for breast cancer is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the condition.,Service connection for breast cancer is being remanded because the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his incarceration, requiring an audiological and psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Meniere's disease, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, diplopia, and migraine headaches. The Veteran is to be scheduled for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in and due to his time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an opinion regarding their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, have been dismissed.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and his right ankle disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus had its onset during his active duty service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The hypertension claim is remanded for further review considering the new NAS study.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's current headache disability is due to his nonservice-connected cervical spine disability.,The Board granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected asthma and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.,Service connection was denied for low back and right knee disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. The Veteran reported pain but no functional impairment or limitation in these areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a hand fracture, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and cervical spine disability due to lack of consideration of service treatment records and need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus, gynecomastia, and left little finger disability have been granted service connection. The RO increased the rating for bilateral pes planus to 10 percent in July 2018. However, his right knee strain, left knee strain, and residuals of MRSA infection remain at noncompensable ratings. These issues are being remanded for further evaluation.