Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 18, 2013 for tinnitus was denied as there were no earlier claims filed.,Claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were dismissed due to lack of appeal within one year of the assigned effective dates.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 7, 2012 for bilateral knee osteoarthritis was also dismissed as there were no earlier claims filed.,Claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), pseudofolliculitis barbae, left shoulder disability, and left arm disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine disability is remanded as there may be outstanding VA treatment records that have not been associated with his claims file.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical spine disability is also remanded, and a psychiatric examination is needed to determine the relationship between current psychiatric disorders and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted service connection for tinnitus based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) have been granted. The decision also found that the criteria for TDIU benefits are met due to the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within a presumptive period, and the Veteran did not have continuous symptomatology. The Board also found that there was no link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional error in the VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to improper filing of a VA Form 10182, Decision Review Request: Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete examination and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include heart disorder, headaches, neck disorder, and back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously denied in an unappealed August 2008 rating decision. New evidence has been submitted that relates to the unestablished fact of a continuity of symptoms since service, allowing the reopening of these claims. However, the claims are still pending as they have not yet been decided on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bladder cancer associated with herbicide exposure and jet fuel.,Bladder cancer is being remanded as there was no indication of herbicide or jet fuel exposure in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to presumed exposure to acoustic trauma during active service, but the Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a valid diagnosis related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the August 2013 rating decision. The Veteran's statements that his hearing loss and tinnitus began during service are considered in forming opinions by a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's DIC claim was denied as he did not have a service-connected disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bladder cancer, and bone cancer were all denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or causation of these conditions during his lifetime.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine condition is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spondylosis is dismissed. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 7, 2010 to July 22, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.