Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

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 were incurred during active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic staphylococcal infection, clostridium difficile, nocturnal hypersexuality, and depression.

The Veteran's diabetes is related to exposure to herbicides during service in Korea and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has a nerve condition, skin cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, or anxiety) that are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Korea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied.,Service connection has also not been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity or left upper extremity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable rating of 10 percent.,There is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran has a current left shoulder disability or that any such disability began during service. The preponderance of the evidence is against this claim.,Similarly, there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran has a current right knee disability or that any such disability began during service. The preponderance of the evidence is against this claim.,The VA examiner found no objective evidence of a current thoracolumbar spine disability and concluded that any such disability was not related to service, including in-service lumbarization of the S1 vertebrae.,VA audiometric testing did not reveal left ear hearing loss for VA purposes. Right ear hearing loss was noted on both sets of audiometer findings but only during the first set.,Right ear hearing loss was noted on both sets of audiometer findings, with a significant difference in results between the two sets.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had noise exposure during service, which is considered sufficient to establish a connection with his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left leg ganglion cyst and any residual scarring. The appeal is otherwise pending.

The Board has restored service connection for tinnitus, finding that the April 2016 rating decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as the evidence is in equipoise that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, low back disorder (lumbar degenerative disc disease), and neck disorder (cervical strain) as these conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for dental trauma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete consideration of VA treatment records and an inadequate examination. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records, refer the dental claim to VBA, schedule a VA audiological examination, and readjudicate the claims.

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 noise exposure. The claims were reopened due to new evidence presented.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as the Veteran's statements about in-service noise exposure were not considered new.,The Board found no current diagnosis of sarcoidosis and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for tinnitus/transient ear noise and fatigue/chronic fatigue syndrome was granted. The rating for PTSD with sleep disturbances and unspecified depressive disorder remains at 50 percent.,The VA is remanding the cases of tinnitus, chronic fatigue, and migraines.