Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnoses. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate for deciding these issues, as they did not consider the Veteran's MOS of Auto Mechanic and his reports of ringing in his ears during service. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus at least as likely as not began during active service, manifested within one year after discharge from service, or were noted during service with continuity of the same symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board finds the Veteran's lower back pain and hypertension issues need further development due to lack of verification of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizotypal personality disorder was granted. The claims for back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heat exhaustion, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were all denied.,Service connection for the back disability, to include lumbar strain and mild multilevel cervical spondylosis, is not established as it did not have its onset in service or otherwise relate to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting opinions on whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,PTSD and anxiety are denied as not service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hammer toes, obstructive sleep apnea, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and tinnitus have been granted. The rating for GERD has also been reduced from 30% to 10%. New evidence was submitted that supports the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, neuropathy of the right radial nerve, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU is warranted based on his physical and psychological impairments.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 29, 2011 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates. Service connection claims for laryngitis, sleep apnea, headaches, and a psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service combat noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for both conditions are now pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

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.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, throat condition (pharyngitis), sleep apnea, and left ankle disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, throat condition (pharyngitis), sleep apnea, and left ankle disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, eye disorder (presumably vision impairment), ear disorder (hearing loss and possibly other auditory issues), respiratory disorder, and digestive disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The TDIU claim is remanded as the necessary form has not been submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for skin cancer due to sun exposure during active service.