Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability are denied. The claims for service connection for left knee and back disabilities are remanded due to incomplete examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service, including noise exposure. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, pulmonary tuberculosis, and tinnitus, are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary for the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the existing opinions are inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus was not related to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The obesity claim is denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (secondary to service-connected sleep apnea) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an examination, as no VA examination has been conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential service connection issues, including a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum available rating under VA's rating schedule. The Board finds that the current rating adequately describes his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, upper and lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and tinnitus. The conditions are found to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the claims based on direct evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's cause of death, suicide, was related to his service-connected low back disability and other conditions. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on this matter.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for back disability, residuals of a stroke as due to head injury, depression as due to head injury, and migraines as due to head injury are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 26, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) have been granted.,Service connection for renal disease due to DMII has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right arm disability other than osteoarthritis of the right shoulder.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The left wrist fracture residuals are now rated at 10 percent, effective July 6, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.