Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of cervical spine disorder and hearing loss as secondary to a cervical spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, specifically whether it is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, which he claims began during service and continues to this day, is service-connected.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus alone did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active duty. The Board determined that the VA examiner's opinion was highly persuasive.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, right elbow arthritis with painful flexion, right elbow arthritis with painful supination and pronation, left elbow arthritis with painful flexion, and left elbow arthritis with painful supination and pronation as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to new evidence. The cervical spine disability, head injury with memory loss, migraine headaches, and hearing loss cases are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence linking the conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during active duty.

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

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, vertigo, and a heart disability. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no VA examinations addressing the issue.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ankle tendonitis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to military service. The appeal regarding an increased rating for low back disability was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her claim.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded both claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for skin disability has not been reopened.,Service connection is denied for left shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to the need for additional medical opinion.