Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a supplemental VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to uncertainty in the audiometric data from service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and back disability due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is not addressed as it was not initially raised in this appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a low back disorder, high blood pressure, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims are remanded for further development regarding these issues.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and recurrent tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Human T-lymphotrophic virus is remanded for further examination as the claim lacks a diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his service. The claim for mood disorder was reopened due to new evidence showing the onset of mental health issues during service.,Service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, and mood disorders were all denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the Board finding that they were caused by in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to April 16, 2012. For the period from April 16, 2012 to July 31, 2018 (excluding the period of temporary total evaluation), he was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD and other service-connected conditions. From August 1, 2018 onwards, a TDIU is denied as the Veteran already has a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, respiratory disability, and hypertension due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) because previous medical opinions are inadequate. The Veteran's service connection claims have been remanded several times for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of January 26, 2001, and the Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn during his hearing. The appeals for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were dismissed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The claim to reopen the service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims of service connection for tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eczema, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to or support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his military noise exposure, and service connection for tinnitus is granted.