Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that there was a procedural error in the October 2019 rating decision and thus remanded for further development, including a VA examination by an ENT specialist to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred during service. However, the bilateral hearing loss claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 17, 2010 for the award of service connection for depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right elbow disability are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date claim granted in this decision. The Veteran's increased rating claims for major depressive disorder and TBI are also remanded due to their interrelation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a compensable evaluation for hypertension. The TDIU claim is denied, and the sleep apnea syndrome claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted in full. The remaining issues of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) are dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.,VA denied service connection for a back disorder because there was no evidence of arthritis within one year after separation from service, and VA found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,Beginning March 1, 2012, the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,A 30% rating for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPV) is granted since December 21, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending due to a lack of complete audiogram records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical evidence from the prior VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board granted a TDIU.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to unclear evidence of a hearing disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the heart condition and diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a medical research article. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.,A new medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected psychiatric disability.