Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied, with the highest possible rating already assigned (10%).,An increased rating for the right knee partial LCL tear prior to August 15, 2016, and from October 1, 2016, is remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms.,Service connection for headaches is also remanded as there is no VA examination or opinion regarding this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disabilities and credible reports of in-service acoustic trauma, which led to his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, the issues of service connection for prostate cancer and renal cancer remain unresolved due to lack of definitive information regarding exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded as the Veteran served on a ship off the coast of Vietnam during the presumptive period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and a skin disability. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his active service. The claims will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that her current condition is not related to in-service noise exposure and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia, depression, tinnitus, low back disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are now granted. However, his hypertension, bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, right and left upper and lower extremity neuropathies, and heart disability remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 14, 2010, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss prevented him from obtaining and sustaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is denied as his combined rating is at least 80 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible assertions of ringing in his ears during and after active service establish chronicity of the condition which was later diagnosed as tinnitus. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and GERD have been granted service connection. The right shoulder and knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, lung disability, and heart disability are granted. The claim for a compensable rating for schizophrenia is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional evidence and new examinations being required.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2018 remand. The Veteran's service personnel records and any outstanding VA treatment records are to be obtained, and an additional medical opinion is needed from the January/July 2019 VA audiologist.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to deficiencies in the VA examination reports, specifically regarding the conversion of audiometric results from ASA standards to ISO-ANSI standards. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms and experiences, as well as two medical treatises provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during active duty for training in the Army National Guard.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current hearing loss is not related to his military service due to lack of evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further discussion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.