Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions in previous decisions. The case is now pending with a new examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The criteria for a TDIU are not met due to the combined disability rating of 10%.

The Board has determined that the appellant had active Federal service from March 14, 1960 to September 13, 1960 for purposes of basic entitlement to VA benefits. The claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are currently rated at 10 percent each, but no higher. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

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

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence that her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions like sciatica and tinnitus, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 4, 2009. From November 4, 2009 onwards, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as she had a single service-connected disability (PTSD) rated at 100%, and other disabilities that did not render her unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of November 26, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he has been employed in various positions including bowling alley mechanic for over two decades.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, and a right knee disorder. The appellant's claimed left knee disorder is not considered secondary to the right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are at least in equipoise with the VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between his military noise exposure and current tinnitus. However, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a compensable level of hearing loss within one year of discharge from active service, and thus denied service connection on this basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted based on new evidence submitted in June 2019, including a May 1970 enlistment examination showing pre-existing hearing loss. The RO considered the claims on their merits after obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for foot and toenail fungus, as well as skin cancer. The decision is based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate VA opinion.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2018 to April 29, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Sjogren’s syndrome has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability have been denied. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis and tinnitus remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against such a claim. The effective date assigned was October 17, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus may be related to his service, but more evidence is needed to make a determination.