Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, including medical articles linking tinnitus to mental health disorders and VA examination findings supporting the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the September 2006 rating decision. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board has found that the VA opinions were inadequate and remanded for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and analysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 14, 2012. The evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, granted both claims, and found that there is at least a reasonable possibility that the Veteran’s hearing loss worsened during service. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability in the right ear, but granted service connection for a current left ear hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking his current conditions to service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, headaches, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the Veteran's current tinnitus was less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus has been denied.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as of September 6, 2010, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from all substantially gainful employment prior to December 2, 2014.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service noise exposure and their current conditions. The AOJ must seek clarification of private audiometry results and obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional evidence and an expert opinion is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to a rating of at least 70 percent, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran is not in need of aid and attendance solely due to his service-connected conditions, but also requires assistance from nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathies, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and memory loss for further development. The disability rating for left eye blindness is also being remanded.