Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete service personnel records, SSA disability benefit records, and private medical records. The Veteran will be offered an additional hearing with a Decision Review Officer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, tonsil cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Additional evidence is needed from VA treatment records and a medical opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral flatfeet and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, with service connection established based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for right great toe disorder, bilateral foot disorders (other than flatfeet), left knee disorder, and TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Meniere’s disease with vertigo, cerebellar gait, tinnitus, and impaired hearing was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met or nearly approximated the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6205.

The Veteran's headaches, diagnosed as tension headaches, are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma, was not service-connected as it did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board found that his depression did not cause or substantially contribute to his alcohol abuse or hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder is granted at a 50% rating from May 28, 2014. The appeal period for the initial rating of dysthymic disorder began on December 15, 2010.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision on hearing loss is based on the absence of evidence linking it to service, while tinnitus was found to be related to service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran's incarceration prevented him from attending previously scheduled exams, and he is currently homeless.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for a dental disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within a year of separation from service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current disabilities. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, and a rating higher than 20 percent for peptic ulcer disease. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of prior communications or claims before November 17, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a change in the Veteran's discharge status, which may affect eligibility for VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development and examination of his service-connected conditions.