Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus of the right ear and remanded the issue of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The decision on tinnitus is based on a finding that it did not have its onset in service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service. For IBS, the Board found an inadequate examination as it only addressed causation but not aggravation.

The Board has decided that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus may be linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not develop in service or within one year of separation, and is therefore denied. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is linked to his active duty service, while his hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation and was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, vertigo, knee instability, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DM, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and cataracts have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further evaluations of the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds insufficient credible evidence of current tinnitus and thus denies the claim. For COPD, a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service, based on exposure to acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bladder cancer claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. Parkinson’s disease is granted as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury. Tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10%. Reduced sense of smell and taste are not compensable. An effective date of April 20, 2015, but no earlier, for a higher rating of 30% for irritable bowel syndrome with GERD is granted. Right elbow cubital tunnel syndrome remains at the maximum schedular rating of 10%. The Veteran's appeal regarding right arm nerve damage (cubital tunnel syndrome) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.