Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, with the claim for a bilateral foot condition being remanded. The decision grants service connection for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection was denied for residuals of trench foot.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine due to in-service exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing his current condition and that the delay between service and diagnosis did not support a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of May 22, 2007. The claims for tinnitus and dizziness/vertigo including Meniere's disease, as well as the increased rating for left shoulder disability, are being remanded due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hypertension, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and bilateral shoulder arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including tinnitus, right ankle disability, right elbow necrotic ulcer with scar, pelvic fracture, basilar skull fracture, right medial orbital wall fracture, right ear hearing loss disability, tracheostomy, right pulmonary contusion, grade VI liver laceration, status post-surgical repair, intraperitoneal bladder rupture, status-post surgical repair, splenetic laceration, status post multiple laparotomy repairs, scar secondary to a tracheostomy, scarring from stomach surgery, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury. The decision was based on the finding that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service due to willful misconduct.,The Board also denied service connection for a right ankle disability, as it was determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple sclerosis, rhinitis, tinnitus, shrapnel right eye, sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The cause of death was also denied as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective date of July 1, 2020. The conditions were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% rating effective December 29, 2009. However, part of the past-due benefits were withheld due to military retirement pay, resulting in an adjusted amount being awarded. The appellant is entitled to attorney fees based on the total amount of past-due benefits prior to deductions for military retirement pay.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and all issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for left wrist fracture residuals with DJD has been denied. The Veteran does not have ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.,Prior to June 20, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected left CTS was rated at 10 percent based on mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. As of June 20, 2017, the condition has been rated as severe incomplete paralysis due to symptoms such as loss of reflexes and muscle atrophy.,The Veteran's residual linear and nonlinear scars have not met the criteria for a compensable rating based on pain or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD due to procedural issues with earlier effective dates. The Veteran's current service-connected conditions are rated at 10 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The decision does not specify an effective date.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, assigning a combined rating of 40 percent from September 22, 2010. The RO then awarded attorney fees based on the past-due benefits.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his dizziness/loss of consciousness is not. The liver disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The initial rating for spastic colitis remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.