Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease, spinal spondylitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals of right knee and right shoulder disorders, granted service connection for IBS, and remanded other issues due to lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination as the current VA opinion is insufficient to decide these claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is granted a 100 percent evaluation, and service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for other conditions (sleep apnea, prostate condition, diverticulosis, high blood pressure) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, except for a brief period in 2016. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than August 21, 2018 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision states that no claim was filed prior to August 21, 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and uncorroborated in-service stressors. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records, including from SSA and private providers, and to schedule a PTSD examination if corroborated stressors are found.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis. The facial pain claim was denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability. The claim for low back disability is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and missing service treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in a previous decision.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete service records and need for further development of the Veteran's disability benefits.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the absence of an adequate substantive appeal.,Service connection claims for bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral foot arthritis, and a vision condition have also been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue of sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the hearing loss and tinnitus claims due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their onset during service. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure as a Military Police officer is acknowledged, but further examination by an ENT specialist is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to new evidence received. His bilateral hearing loss claim is reopened, but additional development is needed. The compensable rating and increased rating claims are also remanded.