Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's initial rating for hearing loss of the left ear was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for depression was granted, with the opinion that the condition is related to service due to misbehavior in personnel records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied because the evidence did not show a link between his current tinnitus and his military service. The Board found that while he had exposure to noise during service, there is no evidence of tinnitus until after separation from service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious features is granted as secondary to service-connected cervical strain, migraines disorder, and tinnitus.,Left ear hearing loss has been granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss is not considered aggravated by service.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has not yet addressed the merits of the reopened claims for facial scars and a penile disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as a statement of the case has not been issued.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his military service, specifically due to noise exposure.

The claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, heart disorder, and high blood pressure have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,New evidence has not reopened previously denied claims of service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), blurry vision, and blepharospasm.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, sleep disability, chest disability, diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to herbicide exposure), TBI, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy have all been denied. The dental condition claim has also been referred for adjudication.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for malignant skin neoplasms is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 20, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is also denied as his current disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation under any diagnostic code.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), a sleep disorder, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions in the record.,For the back disorder claim, additional medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service.,For the major depressive disorder claim, additional medical opinion is needed regarding whether it was incurred in service and/or aggravated by tension headaches and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were granted. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for tinnitus and has determined that it is related to his active duty. The Veteran reported noise exposure during service, including from vehicles and weapons fire, which he stated caused him to experience ringing in his ears since separation.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU as of June 23, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran is not substantially confined to his home and therefore denied SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.