Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for polyneuropathy/peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of new and relevant evidence, but granted service connection for tinnitus and low back disability.,Service connection was not established for polyneuropathy/peripheral neuropathy as the Veteran's condition did not manifest within one year after service. The Board found no link between the condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a brace used for his service-connected back disability and topical medication used for his service-connected eczema in 2018, as there was no evidence that these items caused significant damage to his clothes.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, sleep apnea, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The criteria for a higher rating were not met in any of these cases.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation for denying service connection for a right leg disability, including right leg lengthening.,Additional development is needed to determine if the leg length discrepancy constitutes a recognized disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have all been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.,Service connection was presumed due to exposure during service, but clear and unmistakable evidence showed that the disabilities existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for sinusitis and service connection for deviated septum status post surgery repair (septoplasty) have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and residuals of an injury to the left eye were granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for eye disability was granted. Service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, stomach conditions, and migraine headaches were all granted with effective dates ranging from May 5, 2017 to June 23, 2017. The Veteran's low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability, seizures, and TDIU claim are still pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.,The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 10, 2019 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied. The Board finds that his hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation before this date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for increased special monthly compensation.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but granted service connection for depression and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examinations. The issues of tinnitus, hearing loss, and psychiatric disorders remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and 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 appeal is remanded due to issues related to his need for aid and attendance of another person as a result of service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury. The specific conditions include PTSD, CAD, tinnitus, and hearing loss in both ears.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for colon cancer, but denied due to lack of a link between the condition and service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred these conditions in service, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.