Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as due to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure, his current diagnosis of hearing loss, and the opinion that his tinnitus is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with the hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, PTSD, SFW left groin, thigh, penis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, resulted in functional impairment that precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from December 19, 2011 to June 5, 2016. A TDIU rating was granted during this period.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus because the Appellant's discharge from service was under dishonorable conditions, serving as a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's tinnitus rating is denied, and a 10 percent rating for left ear chronic suppurative otitis media continues. The right ear disability with hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since September 28, 2011. The effective dates for service connection of the right ear disability and the evaluation of bilateral otitis media with perforation of tympanic membranes and hearing loss are denied.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions in question.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 6, 2014, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The Board also finds that his claims for sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) require further development as they may be related to pre-existing conditions or personal assault during boot camp.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally or etiologically due to noise exposure and diving during service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension were remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, arthritis (including as secondary to sleep apnea), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to missing service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence are sufficient to warrant VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate development in a previous VA examination.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development as the opinions provided in the February 2016 VA audiological evaluation are inadequate. Specifically, a new medical opinion is needed to reconcile discrepancies in the Veteran’s audiograms during service and his conceded exposure to hazardous noise during service on the nature and etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol and drug use disorder, as well as for an earlier effective date than August 9, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his lumbar spine disability rating is remanded for further examination. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, liver disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.