Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The rating for tinnitus was found to be at the maximum allowable, asthma was rated appropriately based on PFT results, and new evidence did not support reopening of claims for recurrent ear infections or breast augmentation. Service connection for left knee disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and left leg disorder were denied due to lack of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection of DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee injury, and right knee injury. The petition to reopen the claim for asthma was also denied as no new and material evidence was presented.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and his disabilities alone do not result in occupational impairment sufficient to warrant an extraschedular referral.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. Bilateral hearing loss is now granted as related to service, while tinnitus is also granted as related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dizzy spells, a sleep disorder, a headache disorder, and depression due to potential secondary relationships. The claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates with respect to his evaluation for tinnitus and hearing loss have been dismissed as a matter of law. The Board has also remanded several issues related to increased evaluations and earlier effective dates for various disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of residuals of left foot injury due to in-service knife wound.

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 service. The Veteran's claims were supported by medical opinions and his own testimony regarding noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.,Service connection for anxiety disorder (including PTSD) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but the service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his increased rating claim for right knee osteoarthritis, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for hearing loss or tinnitus meeting VA compensation criteria, and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing these conditions. For right knee osteoarthritis, the Board granted a 10 percent rating effective from November 3, 2017, based on noncompensable limitation of motion due to arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a broken right ankle, hypertension, GERD, and bipolar disorder due to outstanding VA and private medical records being needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 6, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10% rating, but the effective date is prior to July 18, 2016.,Other claims for service connection or increased ratings were either not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence or denied outright.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right achilles tendon disability and hypertension are denied initial compensable ratings.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded.