Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere’s disease due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment of these conditions during service, but he contends they are related to noise exposure while serving aboard a naval vessel.

The claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to exposure to noise during active duty.,Service connection for GERD with dysphagia is granted based on in-service complaints and post-service treatment records linking the condition to his military service following September 11, 2001.,The Veteran's claim for liver disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending as a remanded issue.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,The Board has determined that new evidence received since the August 2008 rating decision is sufficient to reopen the previously denied claims of right, left knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and headache disorder are granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but his other claims are remanded.

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 Board denied a combined rating in excess of 90% since September 26, 2018. The Veteran's disabilities were evaluated and combined according to the Combined Ratings Table, resulting in an overall disability rating of 90%. The claim for a higher combined rating was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues related to knee, hip, back, and neuropathy conditions. The left knee condition is found to have been aggravated by service beyond its natural progression.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left shoulder disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and cardiac and kidney disorders. Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus, hypertension, and TDIU have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection of left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus) is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted an initial rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis is not established as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left eye diplopia and TDIU on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the current 40 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability, as it accounted for interference with employment due to loss of pilot and state trooper positions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 27, 2018, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus was also denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating is appropriate given the lack of evidence showing marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, specifically his tinnitus, was denied as there was no indication that his service-connected disability alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,Service connection is also not granted for initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for recurrent hepatitis disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records and further examination is required.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities. Service connection is denied for residuals of a left forearm injury.