Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is as likely as not related to his military service and MOS as a radio operator.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service. The Board also found no evidence of in-service noise exposure resulting in permanent hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's status as a veteran for active duty for training and inactive duty training. The VA is instructed to obtain the appellant's service treatment records, personnel records, and pay records from appropriate sources. A VA medical examination will be scheduled to determine the etiology of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings and the case is closed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, his left ear hearing loss was pre-existing and had not worsened during service, and he currently has no significant tinnitus in either ear.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues due to incomplete rationale in the VA examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and skin cancer are granted. The Veteran's claim for an eye disability is dismissed due to withdrawal. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the initial denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches (claimed as migraine), hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection. The tinnitus issue is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of right hand strain and left hand strain are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus had its onset during active military service and resolving any reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, osteoarthritis of the right knee, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and tinnitus, render him unable to obtain substantial gainful employment. As a result, the Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50% rating, effective from January 4, 2012.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,TDIU is remanded and will be adjudicated after the implementation of other decisions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The AOJ should schedule an updated VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD, and issue a Statement of the Case on the initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure are considered credible, but the nexus opinions need to be more specific about medically known or theoretical causes of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is denied as it did not have its onset during active service, was not caused by his active service, and did not manifest within one year after separation from active service.