Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or showing a link to in-service noise exposure.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The effective date for service connection of PTSD prior to November 19, 2013, is denied.,Service connection is granted for basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, a skin rash, hypertension, right lower extremity numbness, tingling, and loss of feeling, left lower extremity numbness, tingling, and loss of feeling, restless leg syndrome of the left lower extremity.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability is denied as the Veteran does not have a distinct current disability from his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. Service connection for a left knee disability, to include total left knee replacement residuals with degenerative arthritis, secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right lower extremity radiculopathy, ilio-inguinal nerve neuritis, headaches, and tinnitus have been rated based on their severity under the applicable diagnostic codes.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied for low back disability, asthma (claimed as dyspnea), sleep apnea, and hypertension.,The Veteran's current asthma was not manifest in active service or related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, which is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and is related to that exposure, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC benefits based on the need for A&A, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him helpless and in need of regular assistance from another person.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he receives a 30 percent initial rating for PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder prior to June 15, 2017. A higher rating of 70 percent is granted as of June 15, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to issues with scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's point of contact at the prison is SN, but there were delays in communication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the lack of a sufficient rationale in the October 2016 VA examination regarding potential noise exposure during his military service as a communications specialist.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded due to the absence of an opinion addressing herbicide agent exposure and situational stress or anxiety exacerbating his GERD.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety, is remanded as there is insufficient evidence linking it to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, and the effective date for service connection for tinnitus is denied prior to February 21, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet decided whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen each individual claim.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus. The other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder (MDD) are denied. The Veteran's hypertension and right elbow disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was onset during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.