Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate examination, and requests that an additional VA examination be conducted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic tinnitus in service or within a year of separation from service. The Board also found that tinnitus is not related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service and is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet due to frost bite, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than September 24, 2015 for the grants of service connection and a 10 percent rating for tinnitus is dismissed as it attempts to reopen a final decision without legal authority.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for toenail disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions beginning during service or being related to any in-service event, disease, or exposure.,The Veteran's hypertension was not determined to be secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. Service connection for a pulmonary disability, claimed as a lung nodule, to include as due to in-service asbestos exposure, is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disability.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA audiological evaluation and addendum opinion are inadequate, and thus requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. It also denied increased ratings for COPD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and residuals of a thoracic spine fracture.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. An initial 40 percent evaluation has been granted for the lumbar strain condition, effective April 23, 2012. A separate 10 percent evaluation has also been granted for the left lower extremity radiculopathy beginning September 7, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, damage to the ear, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not presented. The Board found that there is no link between any of these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral knee disability, bilateral lower leg shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus require additional development due to outstanding records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's audiograms during service and his reported onset of tinnitus. A new medical opinion is needed to reconcile these discrepancies.

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