Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, gastroenteritis, and hemorrhoids due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now considered substantiated.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced in-service acoustic trauma, which led to current disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to VA compensation for this condition. However, his request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions, with tinnitus being diagnosed to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (hearing loss, major depressive disorder, left knee chondromalacia, and tinnitus) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for tinnitus, the maximum schedular rating, effective from June 21, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise to support these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and tinnitus are related to service, but more evidence is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. A 70 percent disability rating has been assigned for PTSD, effective from December 17, 2014, the date of his claim to reopen. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appeal as there was no timely substantive appeal filed regarding the issues of effective dates and ratings for various conditions, as well as service connection for head tumors, a left eye disability, and headaches.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD). Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Right eye laceration is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,Depression is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,Cervical spine disability remains at 20 percent, with no higher rating granted.,Thoracolumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent, with no higher rating granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss should be remanded for further evaluation, specifically to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.,The Board found no medical evidence linking any current lumbar spine, foot, or wrist disabilities to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a periodontal condition (claimed as periodontal/gum condition) are denied. The Veteran's knee condition remains in dispute.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has found that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an examination by an ENT specialist.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for tinnitus.