Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, while his thoracolumbar spine disorder is denied. The Veteran's foot fungus condition does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for dependency and indemnity compensation based on a claim of entitlement to service connection for cause of death, as well as accrued benefits for special monthly compensation. Additional development is needed due to incomplete medical opinions and potential links between service-connected disabilities and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability and left shoulder disability is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for service-connected asbestosis as of March 15, 2016. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for a bilateral ankle disability. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,Ear infections and vertigo are also being remanded for further development as the VA examiner’s opinion is insufficient.,Tuberculosis, COPD, and hypertension secondary to PTSD/Hypothyroidism are being remanded due to incomplete or conflicting evidence.,Hypertension is being remanded because of a lack of information regarding fuel fume exposure in service.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his military service.,His bilateral ear condition (otitis externa) and ankle conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the tinnitus claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to July 22, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service. The cervical spine and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for PTSD was not timely filed, resulting in the June 2014 rating decision becoming final. Tinnitus is rated at its maximum of 10 percent. Hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating. GERD meets the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating but no higher. The scar claim was granted based on service connection.

The Veteran's PFB is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a current disability exists.,Service connection for a bilateral eye disability cannot be granted due to lack of evidence linking the diagnosed conditions to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted because there was no showing of chronicity within a presumptive period and no continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for tinnitus as secondary to hearing loss is not granted, and direct service connection is also not granted due to lack of evidence linking the disability to service.,Service connection for a chest disability cannot be granted because there is no current diagnosis or evidence of symptoms related to the chest during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's sleep disability and tinnitus claims are being reviewed, as well as his claim for an increased rating for cervical IVDS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hand disability, left hand disability, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and military service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that his current level of hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of hearing loss and tinnitus to service. The Veteran's MOS as a construction electrician suggests exposure to noise, but his audiograms show fluctuations that do not meet VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining claims of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.