Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision is based on credible lay testimony regarding noise exposure during service and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is denied as his disability picture does not present an exceptional situation that makes the available schedular evaluation inadequate, and there is no evidence indicating he cannot obtain employment in a field that does not lend itself to carrying items.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims as there is no causal relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has denied service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, and has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were found to be related to in-service noise exposure.,A rating of 10 percent for pulmonary histoplasmosis was denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses, including his reported in-service noise exposure, are considered sufficient to establish service connection.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's low back residuals of soft tissue sarcoma are rated at 40 percent prior to December 10, 2015 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity do not warrant a compensable initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of residuals of a traumatic brain injury, rhinitis, and fatigue and muscle pain have been dismissed.,An effective date earlier than January 23, 2008 for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disability has been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and type II diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or causation to service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported history of ringing in his ears since military service is credible. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 31, 2015 are denied as there was no formal claim pending before this date. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's employment at a nuclear facility post-service may be relevant to his current claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, which he claimed was caused by noise exposure during service, is at least in equipoise with the medical evidence and thus granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the June 2013 rating decision was final due to lack of appeal within one year. The effective date remains January 7, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, sleep apnea, skin disorder (seborrheic dermatitis), and type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between the conditions and service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability for any of these conditions under VA regulations.