Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities since July 1, 2008. The decision is effective from that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of Asiatic flu are remanded for further development.,The VA examiner found no link between current hearing loss and service, but acknowledged the Veteran’s assertions regarding noise exposure in service and continued symptoms since then.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. Service connection has been granted for PTSD with a rating of 70 percent effective April 22, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence submitted since the last decision. The AOJ must review this additional evidence and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.,For the remaining issues, including prostatitis, PTSD, right elbow disability, and erectile dysfunction, the Board has determined that additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs new VA audiological and employment impact examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education, prior work history and training.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically related to his in-service recurrent fungal infection of the left ear.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss is being evaluated again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

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

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 16, 2019 is denied as he was still employed and able to perform his job duties. The issue of TDIU beginning January 16, 2019 is dismissed because the Veteran has a combined rating of 100% due to asthma with COPD and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of examination for Meniere's disease symptoms, and it is recommended that the Veteran be scheduled for an examination closer to his residence or using virtual services.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including a vocational rehabilitation evaluation that assesses the Veteran's current limitations and their effect on his ability to perform in his occupational field. The issue of entitlement to VR&E benefits is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a higher rating for tinnitus, left upper extremity radicular neuropathy, vascular headaches, epididymitis and testicle cyst condition, external hemorrhoids, and left arm scars. Service connection was granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 10, 2017.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions, the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and right ear hearing loss should be earlier than January 16, 2014. The Veteran's other claims are being remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an anxiety or sleep condition (including as secondary to service-connected PTSD), and tinnitus. The claim for tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee replacement and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on this finding.