Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the service connection for tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The VA will provide a comprehensive examination to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, neurological impairments of the upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence of a service-connected condition related to these issues.

The Board has decided that another VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, as the previous opinions were based solely on the absence of documented hearing loss in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left thumb disability is remanded to allow for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of gout, a bilateral foot condition, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and residuals of right scaphoid fracture.,The Board also dismissed the appeals seeking earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and tinnitus have been reopened, but the issues are being remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions. The Veteran's active duty was not in a period of war that would qualify him for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing loss or tinnitus, and the medical opinions provided did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date earlier than September 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Board found no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision on hearing loss is based on the lack of evidence showing a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and the VA examiner's opinion that the current hearing loss is not related to service. Tinnitus was present during service and currently, so it is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of renal insufficiency is denied. The claim for a higher initial rating prior to January 16, 2014 and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest within one year of active service or were not caused by his military service.,The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptoms post-service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for a right ankle fracture.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, osteophytosis, and facet hypertrophy, is service-connected as it was caused by his duty specialty of Boatswain Mate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he may be suitable for less communication-intensive employment.