Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right leg condition and ear infections due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a typographical error in the Order section of the February 2018 decision, where it denied TDIU effective August 15, 2017. The Veteran's combined disability evaluation did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, which may be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding medical records from VA facilities in Jackson and Natchez, Mississippi. The Board also ordered an updated VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely than not due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), a neck condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, hypertension, low back condition, and bilateral foot condition are remanded.,The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal of the increased rating for tinnitus. The claim is dismissed.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative spondylosis and right and left knee patellar-femoral degenerative changes, cause severe impairment such that he is unable to ambulate without an assistive device such as a wheelchair. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and tinnitus are remanded for further examination and determination of their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and has granted service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss claim was remanded due to conflicting evidence, and a new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to service. The VA will obtain any missing audiometric records, schedule a new examination, and provide an opinion on whether the disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus manifested within one year of his separation from service and is not attributable to an intercurrent cause. The decision is based on a presumption due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss including otosclerosis due to lack of verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.