Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 30 percent to noncompensable, effective April 1, 2018, was improper and the 30 percent rating has been restored.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, rhinitis, a neck disability, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the July 2018 Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (traumatic injury of the lumbosacral spine, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. His right and left knee disabilities are denied as not related to his active duty service. The low back, neck, left shoulder and arm, and right and left feet disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for tinnitus, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The conditions are related to military service exposure.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, is granted as service-connected. Other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD was increased to 60 percent in August 2011, but then reduced back down to 10 percent in July 2016. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the original 60 percent rating. Additionally, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus require the need for aid and assistance due to his inability to manage daily activities such as medication management and protection from environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and unspecified depressive disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, joint pains, muscle pains, left knee disability, foot disability, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disability. The appeals are remanded for further development on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.