Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 15, 2019 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further development to address whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during service, including incidents involving a blow to the head in 1985 and cumulative effects of loud noise exposure from 1985 through 1993.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and foreign bodies of the neck, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since July 21, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date. However, the issue of an extraschedular TDIU prior to July 21, 2016 is remanded for further review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left shoulder disorder, a back disorder, heart/ischemic heart disease, and a right foot disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues due to the appellant's character of discharge and other service connection claims. The VA will seek additional records, conduct a mental health examination, and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and need for further examination. The Veteran is not seeking service connection based on a presumption of exposure, but rather on direct evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his claim for tinnitus was granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective October 10, 2013. The Veteran seeks an increased rating.,For the period prior to June 6, 2016, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidentiary development being needed before a final decision can be made on the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and continued since. The claim is based on direct evidence of a current disability (tinnitus) and a link between it and service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the appellant's death.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, vision loss, hypertension, kidney/renal disorder, heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). However, these claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and other development that may be needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is being reviewed, and a VA examination will be scheduled if necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 25, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for hypertension have been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus was denied. Service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea were both denied, and the appeal for TDIU is considered moot due to his current combined disability rating of 100 percent.