Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment history and because of a need for additional examination. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these issues are resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, and back disorder due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and then schedule VA examinations if necessary.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic tonsillitis (claimed as sinusitis), and chronic sinusitis.,There is no current diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis or chronic sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's tinnitus is proximately due to or made worse by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period prior to March 31, 2014 and since March 31, 2014. The decision is based on his service-connected disabilities collectively rated at 60% and 80%, respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed exposed to acoustic trauma during service as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, peripheral neuropathy, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the August 2015 VA audiological examination, which did not adequately explain how tinnitus is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, while a 20% rating for his right shoulder disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been resolved as the AOJ granted a 20% evaluation, effective December 30, 2012. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue in June 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and therefore, he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for 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.

The Veteran's hypertension, spondylolisthesis L5-S1, and residuals of hepatitis A for accrued benefits purposes are granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted on an accrued basis.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted on an accrued basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied, and his claims for service connection for OSA and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The case for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on direct evidence showing a link between his military noise exposure and current tinnitus.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is denied for a left knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's Disease, entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, and entitlement to TDIU prior to March 7, 2018. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to military service.