Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has found the Veteran's hypertension service connection claim granted. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for left elbow disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for cerebral atrophy is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that it began in service or is related to an injury, disease, or event in service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and employment capabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and a TDIU is granted. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, and a higher rating for tinnitus.,No new evidence was presented to reopen any previously denied claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 19, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin condition due to insufficient VA opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records confirm in-service noise exposure and herbicide exposure, but the VA examiners did not adequately address these factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, type II diabetes, PTSD, tinnitus, and diabetic neuropathy, have caused his erectile dysfunction. As a result, both the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and the SMC claim based on loss of use of a creative organ are granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened due to new evidence. His claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eye condition (including as due to Camp Lejeune exposure), and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions on his cause of death, specifically his adjustment disorder with depressed mood and substance abuse.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and physical conditions like lumbar sprain, left hip bursitis, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from Duke University Hospital. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms are already covered by the current rating criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD are all granted. The claim for COPD is remanded as the evidence does not establish a nexus between the current diagnosis of COPD and in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from June 26, 2019 is granted. The Board also remanded several issues including the rating of genu recurvatum and knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between tinnitus and service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. The remaining issues (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of informed decision-making on service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a heart disorder. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is an issue.