Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to inadequate substantive appeals.

Compensation for bladder cancer is denied. Service connection for cervical spine, right wrist, and right ankle disorders is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches associated with tinnitus of both ears has been granted, effective September 10, 2013. The Veteran is currently rated at the highest schedular evaluation (50%) for this condition since February 16, 2016. His TDIU and dependents educational assistance claims are remanded due to the need for an initial rating determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Effective dates of July 28, 2005 have been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the September 2013 rating decision. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again as there is now evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye glaucoma and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are the result of in-service trauma and noise exposure respectively.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection based on the benefit of doubt.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise with regards to its onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The claim for a low back condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere’s Syndrome (dizziness), but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and medical records showing current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a nexus between current disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have started during service and has continued since then, warranting its grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the July 2004 VA medical opinion. The case is returned to a VA audiologist for an addendum opinion addressing the credibility of the Veteran's testimony regarding post-service occupational noise exposure with hearing protection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination, as the VA examiner did not address whether it was aggravated by PTSD or related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's chronic kidney stones are also remanded for a medical opinion on their relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and cough-variant irritant-induced asthma are granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure. The Board found the evidence at least equipoise on whether these conditions were caused by military service.

The Board vacated its previous decision and granted service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, denied an increased rating for right knee flexion, granted separate ratings for right knee extension and instability, and denied a compensable rating for hypertension. The flat feet, PFB, and TDIU claims were remanded.