Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for lower back condition, bilateral knee condition, and skin condition (porphyria cutanea tarda).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes, tinnitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy) combine to render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced for and against this claim due to significant diabetic-related and psychiatric impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The right knee and left hip disorders, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, major depressive disorder, and left rib calcium build-up are all considered new and material evidence has been presented.,A 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle calcaneus fracture is granted effective January 4, 2012. An initial 70 percent rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and bipolar I disorder) is granted from April 29, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection is granted for a lower-gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome).,Service connection is denied for sleep issues and disturbances (insomnia/dyssomnia, sleep apnea).,Service connection is denied for acne.,Service connection is denied for keloid scars.

The Veteran's low back condition, bilateral knee disability, and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been established for degenerative disc disease of the low back, a meniscal tear with degenerative changes in bilateral knees, an anterior cruciate ligament tear in the right knee, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for nerve impairment of the right lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hiatal hernia, and tinnitus was granted. A 10% rating for low back disability was also granted effective June 4, 2014. The addition of the Veteran’s dependent spouse to his VA disability compensation award began on July 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, keratitis, and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for a right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and PTSD. The remaining conditions are not addressed in detail as the decision is on appeal.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no nexus between the Veteran's cause of death and his service-connected conditions. The preponderance of evidence indicates that the Veteran's cause of death was due to end stage liver disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had current tinnitus and established a link between it and service, while finding no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As such, TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's military service. The claims were reopened due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not show an increase in severity of preexisting conditions during active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD has been denied, but the appeal is remanded for further evaluation of this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and secondary service connection for a right knee disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise, which led to his current tinnitus, and the aggravation of his pre-existing left knee condition resulting in his right knee disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection, but his lumbar spine condition is denied. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.