Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus alone prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to the lack of evidence of a current disability other than gout affecting both ankles. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), gout, bilateral plantar fasciitis with DJD and heel spurs, and bilateral shin splints are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries related to these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, claimed as ringing in the ears, is found to have started during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the lack of a VA examination since his July 2016 claim and because no outstanding medical records have been obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) prior to January 20, 2012. However, due to VA policy requiring all veterans who are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities to be rated totally disabled, the case must be submitted to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The Board has decided that referral is warranted for this issue.

The Board is remanding the case because there are missing documents related to the termination of the Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits. The AOJ needs to obtain and associate these documents with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine/neck disability, vision disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded.,The Board found that there was no credible evidence of a neck injury during active duty service, thus denying the Veteran's direct service connection claim for cervical spine/neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is more likely than not related to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and hearing loss due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 21, 2015 rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, and he is now entitled to a 10% rating for his right snapping hip syndrome.,His effective date for the grant of service connection for right snapping hip syndrome remains June 23, 2014. The Board has found that an earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints, diagnosis or treatment for tinnitus during his active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the current bilateral tinnitus is less likely than not related to in-service acoustic trauma and more likely due to normal aging-related hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for increased rating of other specified trauma related disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and unguium were granted a 60 percent rating effective September 19, 2016. The appeal is remanded for further development.,COPD and variously diagnosed psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development of evidence and examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The decision also denied a compensable rating for his scar from prostate cancer surgery and denied entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing onset during or within one year after service discharge.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The decision found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which he can seek service connection.