Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition, right thumb pain, residual pain due to surgery on the right long finger, left thumb disability, and tinnitus have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of any chronic or service-connected conditions related to these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to inadequate examinations and lack of sufficient detail in the medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding whether her current conditions were related to her in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it did not begin during or immediately after service and was not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss is being reviewed again, including his National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely to have begun during his active duty service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's bladder condition secondary to prostate cancer is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction are all granted service connection. The skin condition of the rear end and back of legs is denied.,Service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension/high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability preexisted service and was aggravated by active duty. Tinnitus is proximately caused by the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the failure to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives and consideration of evidence favorable to the Veteran. The Board will need to obtain an updated opinion regarding the collective impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to function in an occupational environment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (a). The Board has referred the claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an initial determination on whether the Veteran’s service connected disabilities warrant an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate or based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no effective dates were assigned.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examinations are deemed inadequate, and further medical examination and opinion are required.