Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 9, 2016 due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ocular hypertension due to a lack of VA treatment records and incomplete examination reports. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for an examination.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or causal relationship to service.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus and her military service.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits are remanded due to concerns about his current employment and the need for a new assessment considering all evidence of record, including his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, low back condition with sciatica, neck condition, adjustment disorder, and Raynaud’s syndrome. Service connection is denied for cellulitis, left knee condition, left hip condition, and right knee injury.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,A TDIU claim is also being remanded as it has been raised by the record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding tinnitus, bilateral hip condition, bilateral foot condition (pes planus), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a secondary opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic brain injury residuals and/or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to its inextricability with his pending hearing loss claim. The decision is not binding on other cases or precedential.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted prior to June 16, 2017. From that date, the rating of 20% is maintained.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential inadequacies in the medical opinions provided. The Veteran's current hearing loss is linked to noise exposure during active duty, but the VA examiner did not consider the conversion from ASA to ISO units or the significance of any threshold shifts between entrance and separation from service.

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

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his active duty. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to November 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, cannot be granted due to the lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disorder are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hypertension is granted, while entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia or depression) is remanded.