Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding a current diagnosis related to an in-service stressor. Other service connection claims are remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding their relationship to service.,Service connection is granted for unspecified depressive disorder, as the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to service.,Service connection is denied for PTSD due to lack of a diagnosis under DSM criteria. Service connection is also denied for skin disorders and CAD, as there is no evidence of their onset in service or within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The issues of hypertension, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for a right knee condition has been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral recurrent tinnitus, and right knee osteoarthritis (OA).,There was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The VA audiologist opined that the Veteran’s hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely as not caused by or a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, despite some conflicting opinions. The evidence is in equipoise, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The Veteran also has a disability rating of 10 percent for his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left wrist disability due to inadequate opinions in the original VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and denied for tinnitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as the evidence does not establish continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to additional medical records being added to the claims file after an August 2017 Supplemental Statement of Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by him, including military personnel records and a VA examination report. The claims are related to his ear conditions, hearing loss, and tinnitus, which he contends were aggravated or caused by service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, unspecified trauma and stress-related disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various issues due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, sleep problems) and head trauma.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cerebrovascular accident has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no in-service event or continuous symptomatology related to the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability within VA standards.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, osteoarthritis impacting multiple joints, and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further evaluation.,Further medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s conditions are related to service or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support his claims of GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for PTSD remains denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service combat-related acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ring finger injury, hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a back injury due to additional development being required.