Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for temporomandibular joint disability (TMJ), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and tinnitus are reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims, but the cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for low back disability, left knee meniscal tear, and tinnitus. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service loud noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service diagnosis or exposure to noise that would support a claim of service connection. The Veteran's statements were not supported by the contemporaneous medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye disability (glaucoma), a left ankle disability, a vestibular disorder, and a heart disability are all granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to June 9, 2015, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by his service-connected PTSD, but the Board is unable to make a determination due to insufficient medical evidence.,If the VA examiner finds that PTSD aggravated coronary artery disease and led to hypertension and heart conditions resulting in death, they must provide an opinion on whether there is medical evidence prior to aggravation or at any time between the time of aggravation and the level of disability.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inadequate VA opinions and potential outstanding records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are all remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's responses during a VA examination, requiring additional medical evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and left thumb disability are denied.