Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran’s right wrist tendonitis and left wrist tendonitis have not resulted in functional limitations that warrant a higher rating than the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during active service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. The claims will be reviewed again, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a 50% evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. Service connection for other conditions such as skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, high blood pressure, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and back problem are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is attributable to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for the lumbar spine injury with degenerative joint disease was denied, and the effective date of this grant cannot be prior to October 23, 2009.

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

The VA examiner found that tinnitus was not caused by service due to lack of in-service complaints or treatment. However, the Veteran's STRs indicate he was exposed to hazardous noise during service and his own statement suggests tinnitus began after service. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, but more development is needed for the hearing loss claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to alcohol dependence, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran died from metastatic gastric cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The left ankle disability claim is remanded as there are questions about its pre-service status and whether it was aggravated by service.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service.,The claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus prior to March 26, 2015, is denied because the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim before that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, and peripheral arterial disease of the bilateral legs were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claim of service connection for hypertension. For tinnitus, the preponderance of the evidence was against a finding that it began during service or is related to in-service noise exposure. For peripheral arterial disease of the bilateral legs, there was no indication that the condition was associated with service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, left labral tear (including SLAP), and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the same are dismissed. The appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Board has remanded issues regarding service connection for neck disability, left hand disability, sinusitis, hearing loss, and tinnitus on the merits, as well as an initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional periods of active duty service need to be confirmed and any associated military personnel or service treatment records should be obtained. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of verification of the Veteran's duty dates, and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's current tinnitus disability is granted as service connected, while his bilateral hearing loss disability remains denied.