Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Board also found that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during active service. However, the remaining claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, bladder cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for amputation of the left index finger, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding aggravation by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and tinnitus. The claims are granted as the evidence now shows that these conditions were likely incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, heart disability, hypertension, peripheral artery disease (left lower extremity), peripheral artery disease (right lower extremity), and stroke residuals were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an initial compensable rating for surgical scars of the posterior torso and effective dates prior to specific dates for various service connection awards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while her claims for right ankle disability, neuro rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is granted. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as the VA examiner has not provided an opinion on their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to his in-service concussion, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted service connection with effective dates of July 30, 2016, and September 25, 2013 respectively.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The ratings for left and right ankle disabilities are denied, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for CAD and diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) as there was no evidence of current disabilities or that they were incurred in service.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran had any current conditions related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to his request for a DRO hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder due to inadequate examination reports and lack of an opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, PTSD with alcohol dependence, and left ear hearing loss was granted. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is remanded. The appeals for effective dates for service connection are denied.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability, right ankle disability on de novo basis, and PTSD with alcohol dependence at higher ratings are all remanded.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits due to his incarceration for a felony conviction was proper, as he received benefits at a rate in excess of 10 percent during this period.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent epistaxis and an increased rating for GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are caused by exposure to loud noise during his military service. The claim of an initial compensable rating for a left femur disability is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were not related to his service. The Veteran was denied a TDIU as he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU consideration.