Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The VA needs to obtain additional evidence and provide a new opinion from an otolaryngologist.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board made a decision.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse is now rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the May 2009 rating decision. The Veteran also meets the schedular requirements for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for reactive polycythemia was denied as the condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his service and did not worsen during service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of May 14, 2016. The Veteran is seeking a prior effective date.,The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for a rating higher than the maximum schedular rating (10%).,Service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted with an effective date of May 14, 2016. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.,The claim for initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no legal basis for a higher rating than the maximum schedular rating (0%).,The claim for initial compensable disability rating for tinnitus on an extraschedular basis is remanded due to disagreement with the 10% rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is denied. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service, manifested during the initial post separation year, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus was denied, as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the evaluation of degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 25, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is August 25, 2014, as this is the date the Veteran filed his formal application.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for tinnitus. The claims for right big toe nail loss and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand are remanded due to a lack of examination.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded for further evaluation. The tinnitus and diabetes mellitus claims are also remanded, as well as the rating issues related to peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral visual disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection was granted for thyroid cancer, necrotizing pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has already been assigned.,The request to establish an effective date prior to June 7, 2017 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied due to lack of evidence indicating intent to file a claim before that date.,New and material evidence submitted by the Veteran does not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate his claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis with balance problems, thus the request to reopen this claim is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no indication that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is denied as there is no indication that they began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep issues is denied as there is no indication that they began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder condition is denied as there is no indication that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.