Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it was incurred in service. Service connection for cardiovascular disorder, COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and TDIU have been granted. The appeal to reopen the claim for service connection of tinnitus is also granted. A disability rating of 70 percent has been assigned for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection and a higher rating for the right little finger disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied as there was no prior claim on a standard form prescribed by the Secretary. A rating of 70 percent for recurrent major depressive disorder with alcohol/drug use disorder from October 6, 2015 but not earlier is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral wrist disorder and lumbar spine disorder are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his COPD and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied them based on the lack of new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, hearing loss disability, rash, back of neck and face, limitation of flexion of the knees, left knee pain, right knee pain, lower back injury (claimed as back conditions), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and headaches have been reopened but remain denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for right elbow condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, as he has retired and does not have evidence showing his inability to work due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate examination and consideration of all relevant evidence. The appellant's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted, but his bilateral hearing loss claim is sent back for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sarcoidosis, a lung disorder (to include as separate and secondary to sarcoidosis), a heart disorder (to include as secondary to sarcoidosis), an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include as secondary to sarcoidosis), and a kidney disorder (to include as secondary to sarcoidosis).,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination. The appeal is not granted on these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an ear condition (other than tinnitus), to include otitis externa, is denied. The claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service. The Veteran's self-reported history will be considered in forming these opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus, which is claimed to be related to noise exposure during service. The case will need further development and an opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals, pain status post vasectomy to include hydrocele and cyst left epididymis was denied as the evidence did not show long-term drug therapy or hospitalizations.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for angiomas (claimed as varicocele) was denied as there were no indications of long-term drug therapy, hospitalizations, or intensive management.