Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical records, including SSA disability records and VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea (including as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder), hemorrhoids, and tinnitus are all being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left hand, and right hand conditions. The claims for a right ankle condition and plantar fasciitis are pending, while hearing loss and tinnitus have not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate reasoning in previous decisions. The case is also remanded for further development related to SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claims for headaches, tonsillitis, strep throat, periodontal disease (pyorrhea), and sleep apnea are being remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or any other relevant factor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, effective July 14, 2009. The issue of sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The cases are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, asthma, and lumbago with a central disc bulge at L5-S1 and degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded as there is no medical opinion addressing the potential causation or aggravation between his service and DMII.

The Veteran's left calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 20% and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,For the period prior to January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. For the period from January 17, 2018, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20% and the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10%, but the Board found no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's GERD disability is now rated at 30%.,Service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to GERD were both granted.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as there is no verified stressor related to service.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,The Veteran's hyperlipidemia (claimed as cholesterol) claim is denied as it does not constitute a disability for VA compensation benefits.,The Veteran's tinnitus rating claim is remanded as the current schedular maximum rating has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

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 Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his symptoms are manageable and he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and related radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, respiratory (bronchitis), sinus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for left knee arthritis, but not for other claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to in-service noise exposure, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 23, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and hypertension due to failure to comply with previous directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not submit a claim prior to June 14, 2013.