Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination and the need for a new medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to September 28, 2013 for his total disability rating based upon individual employability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing he became unemployable within one year before that date or any earlier TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that it began during active duty and is related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus and has determined that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran reported noise exposure during active duty, and there is a continuity of symptoms since discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of these conditions have been present since his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from November 29, 2007 to January 8, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service. The Veteran's prostate cancer, impotency, urinary continence, and residuals of fractured left knee are also remanded for further development.,Service connection for prostate cancer, impotency (secondary to prostate cancer), urinary continence (secondary to prostate cancer), and residuals of fractured left knee (including arthritis) is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's lumbosacral epidural abscess, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss were incurred during active duty service or active duty for training. The Board remanded to obtain additional records and conduct further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and a skin disorder of the feet is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate development, including not scheduling a VA examination as requested in prior remands.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and TDIU. The Veteran is also being requested to provide additional information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as he withdrew his claim prior to the Board's decision.,His bilateral hearing loss remains at a 30 percent disability rating, which is the highest possible under the schedular criteria. No higher rating is warranted given the effective date of this award.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and CKD are remanded due to outstanding private medical records from Dr. A.M. and Dr. P.L.,His claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is also remanded as it involves herbicide exposure, but the Veteran has not provided any relevant private treatment records.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for CKD remains pending due to outstanding private medical records from Dr. A.M. and Dr. P.L.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of residuals of tonsillitis, as there is no indication that the Veteran currently has any residual symptoms from his service-connected tonsillitis.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied due to a lack of current evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding stressor verification. The claims will be further evaluated with additional examinations and information.

The Veteran's headaches began during service and have continued to the present, with credible testimony supporting in-service onset. The Board granted service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus are granted service connection. The claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted effective July 24, 2013.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to possible in-service occurrence and current impairment.,Service connection for a heart disability (presumed due to herbicide exposure) is granted as service-connected.