Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension were all denied as there is no in-service event, injury or disease associated with these conditions.

The Board has vacated the March 2019 decision regarding service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his symptoms began in service and have continued since. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible post-service assertions of an in-service onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective January 17, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic migraine headaches, but denied service connection for the other conditions listed. The Veteran's hypertension and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ear hearing loss on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the functional effects of his hearing loss, including difficulty understanding instructions and directions at work, were contemplated by the schedular criteria.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied due to his failure to provide necessary information regarding his employment status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of sufficient evidence in her VA audiological examination. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to determine if her conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient development of evidence, including VA clinical records from Iowa City and Denver. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and subsequent treatment is also considered.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated employment information. The Board acknowledges that he has been employed as an Uber driver, but needs more details on his work history and income.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and tinnitus due to incomplete information in his medical records. The Veteran needs to provide any relevant private treatment records, and he should be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in relative equipoise as to whether there is a nexus between the current disabilities and the Veteran’s service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle condition, and head scar from skin cancer are being remanded for further development as the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's contentions regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as he failed to report for a VA examination. The claims will be rescheduled for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's swelling of the hands due to a cold injury and arthritis of the bilateral hands, knees, and shoulders are denied as not related to active service.,The Veteran's asbestos exposure-related chronic disability is denied as there is no evidence of such exposure during service.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis or in-service incident linked to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and dental condition have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on TBI with dizziness, depression, headaches, left knee ITB syndrome and right knee ITB syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected depression.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 26, 2013 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for reopening of his diabetes mellitus, type II, has been granted. The Board is remanding the issue to determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and lung cancer are being remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is also being remanded, as it may be related to his active duty service.

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