Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition related to asbestos exposure, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The respiratory claim is denied as the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability related to asbestos exposure. The hearing loss claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The tinnitus claim is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to missing separation examination records. The Veteran's attorney provided medical literature that should be considered in the new opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracolumbar compression fracture, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder) are all granted service connection. Secondary service connection is also granted for COPD, grand mal seizure disorder, osteoporosis, vertigo, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent, bilateral tinnitus as these conditions were noted in service with a continuity of symptoms since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. However, his claim for dermatitis/eczema has been remanded.,His PTSD rating remains at 50 percent, with a recommendation for further examination to determine its impact on employment.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to harmful noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for tinnitus (as secondary to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss) is remanded for further examination.

The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, depression and anxiety (psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. These claims are now remanded for further review.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. However, due to incomplete VA treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding bilateral hearing loss, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and hyperacusis, including a new examination and consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10% since September 6, 2016. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and symptomatology.

The issues of service connection for chronic right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression and PTSD), but the remaining issues related to GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, and gastroenteritis are remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and PTSD, is also service-connected based on a verified stressor.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for left ankle disability. The issues include right ankle disability, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The decision on service connection for tinnitus is granted.

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

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities may be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service, but further verification from JSRRC is needed. Service connection will be remanded for this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Board has also remanded cases related to pinched C6 nerve, bilateral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus.