Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and bilateral tinnitus) prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective September 28, 2015.

The appeals for loss of strength in the left hand and wrist, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity have been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for a low back disability. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for right hip surgery residuals is denied as he does not have current residuals of the in-service condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest within one year after service.,Tinnitus was not shown during active service, and the record is against a finding that any currently claimed tinnitus is causally related to the Veteran’s active service or any incident therein.,The criteria for entitlement to service connection for PTSD have not been met. The Board found no evidence of current disability and determined that the Veteran does not meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several issues including bilateral tinnitus, left hand disability, cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, residuals of latent TB, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus rendered him unemployable as of November 25, 2015.

The Board has found that additional opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection should be remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

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 exposure to acoustic trauma. The decision is based on credible evidence of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was caused by noise exposure during his active duty.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus during a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include schizoaffective disorder.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including medical records and articles.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence. The claims are granted as both conditions are presumed related to in-service acoustic trauma.

Service connection for a disability of the spine, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral blindness, and left eye disability is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the invalidity of the VA examination results. The claims are being returned for new examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound was denied as he is not blind, bedridden, or unable to care for most of his daily personal needs without assistance.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the December 2011 VA administrative decision, finding that the character of discharge was not CUE.