Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected as it arose during his combat service in Iraq.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, a back disability, and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his neck injury, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and the earlier effective date for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss in the right ear and a skin condition are remanded. The claim for tinnitus is granted, while the claim for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's spouse was not awarded an earlier effective date for the addition of herself to his compensation award because she did not submit a VA Form 21-686c within one year of being notified of her eligibility, and thus the earliest possible effective date is July 9, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied as it already meets the maximum schedular rating. The effective date for tinnitus is set at November 19, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gout, kidney condition (adrenal adenoma), obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right inguinal hernia repair were denied.

The appeal of the denial of a higher initial rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims for TDIU and hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an increased rating for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of a compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that the evidence received since the February 2011 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability is being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The lumbosacral strain is rated at the lowest possible rating of 10 percent, and no higher ratings are warranted due to lack of limitation in motion or other compensable symptoms.

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 active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches have been denied as secondary to his service-connected knee disability. The claim for broken tooth and residual abscess in the mouth for compensation purposes has also been denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed above due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, have been granted effective from December 11, 2013. The bladder tumors were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for severe bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for recurrent tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Board also remanded several issues related to right shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, headache, and psychiatric disabilities due to insufficient development.