Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal regarding tinnitus and his service-connected right and left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Veteran seeks service connection for right ear hearing loss, which he asserts is related to service.

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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, particularly due to an erroneous finding in the VA examination. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right leg disability was granted. However, the claim of service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for PTSD and tinnitus were both denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service stressors.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied due to lack of audiometric testing showing a hearing loss disability.,Service connection for left foot disability was denied because the Veteran did not present any nexus evidence connecting her symptoms to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and a perforated right eardrum residual condition due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple bilateral renal, carotid cysts due to Camp Lejeune water contamination. The other conditions were denied as not related to service.

All appeals related to the Veteran's upper extremities and tinnitus have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,The Veteran’s diabetic nephropathy with hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not require regulation of activities or hospitalization.,Service connection for cervical myelopathy, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine were granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities were denied, but an earlier effective date for the low back disability was granted.

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

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

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 Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal for right and left lower extremity burns is dismissed. The appeals for increased evaluations of hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of total knee replacement are remanded. The appeal for TDIU prior to January 6, 2017 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea has been reopened, but service connection is still denied.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but service connection is still denied.,The Veteran's claim for neck pain disability has been reopened, but service connection is still denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but the exact nature of his knee, back, cervical spine, and diabetes mellitus disabilities is unclear.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder. The decision is based on new evidence received since the last final denial of these claims.