Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease have been granted. The claim of increased rating for granulomatous lung disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, including right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD, panic disorder, depressive disorder), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye pterygium have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection claims for chronic diarrhea, a respiratory condition, hearing loss, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, and lower back pain are also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for a left knee disorder and tinnitus is granted. The previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and right thigh nerve compression (claimed as femoral artery nerve syndrome and meralgia paresthetica) are reopened.

The Veteran's gynecological disorder, including uterine fibroids and postoperative residuals of a total hysterectomy, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for anemia is granted. The condition was first diagnosed during the Veteran’s active duty (ACDUTRA).,Tinnitus is denied as not related to military service or inservice noise exposure.,Hemorrhoids are denied as unrelated to military service and taking iron pills during service.,Tinea pedis is denied as it first appeared decades after military service and was unrelated to any in-service skin issues.,Skin tags of the left eyelid are denied as they were not related to military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's hepatitis B is remanded for further development due to conflicting medical opinions.,Service connection for hepatitis B will be considered based on the Veteran's in-service exposure, but additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 1, 2014. The Board has granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them. The claim for a bilateral knee condition was granted on remand.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from February 25, 2005.,Effective from February 1, 2018, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on his service-connected disabilities and his inability to work due to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records. The Board is requesting further evidence to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his hearing loss remains under consideration due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the highest available schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no polyps or greater than 50-percent obstruction on both sides of the nasal passage.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the average hearing threshold levels.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current disabilities and military service.,Service connection cannot be established as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The earlier effective date claim for the 20 percent disability rating for left foot disorder is denied, but the Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The case for service connection of tinnitus, to include as secondary to the service-connected hearing loss, is remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 12, 2016.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the case for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss.