Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions started during service and have continued since.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, eye twitch, heart murmur, nightmare disorder, sleep disorder, and anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability or chronic condition related to military service.,There were no medical records documenting the Veteran's claimed conditions during his active duty service. The VA examinations did not find any clinically diagnosed conditions for these disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with secondary alcohol abuse and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, particularly the residuals of cerebrovascular accident, has been established. As a result, he is entitled to SMC at the maximum rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not causally related to noise exposure during active service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not related to his military service, but his tinnitus is considered a disability due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since November 28, 2017. A TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded for additional development. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is also being remanded, but with a request for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for left hand condition and right hand condition has been granted. The claim for tinnitus is also granted.,The claims for service connection of a left hand condition, right hand condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and anxiety) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral spondylosis is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability have been assigned the maximum schedular ratings available, with no legal basis for higher ratings. The Board has also identified additional VA examinations are needed to clarify the nature of his claimed lower respiratory and upper respiratory disabilities.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral leg pain, an upper respiratory disability, and a lower respiratory disability (to include asbestosis). Additional VA examinations are necessary to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The claim for service connection for a low back condition, secondary to bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, has been reopened and the issue is remanded for further evaluation.