Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, dermatitis, COPD, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since service separation. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to noise during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has competent and credible evidence to support his assertion that his tinnitus began during service. However, the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues related to chest injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, right leg disability, heart disability, and unspecified arthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the conditions had their onset during military service and are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a heart disorder to include as due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims are being remanded because VA needs to obtain additional military records and conduct new examinations to determine if there is any relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and a dental disability are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is presumed to be related to noise exposure during service. However, the Veteran's hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing impairment and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the cases of an ulcer disorder and chronic sinusitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU for the period prior to May 8, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin condition due to incomplete records from West Haven VAMC. The Veteran's correct date of birth needs to be used in the request.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, and the claims for left wrist, forearm, and hand disorders are dismissed. The effective dates for service connection of right foot disorder, tinnitus, and right forearm disorder are also dismissed. Service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, and TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of onset during active service or within one year of discharge and concluding that the current condition is not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA opinion. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, while his bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the validity of an overpayment of his VA compensation benefits due to apportionment awarded to his minor children has been dismissed.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 29, 2012 for both the TDIU and Chapter 35 DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since that date.