Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions began during service. The decision also notes that there are positive nexus opinions from private medical examiners linking the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it manifested within one year of separation from active duty.,Service connection for atrial fibrillation is denied, with the Board finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure.,Residuals of a stroke are granted secondary to coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 1, 2018, as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's Graves' disease and thyroid disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected multiple myeloma. The other conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection is also denied for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between her current condition and service, including in-service noise exposure. The Board found the Veteran's claim for continuity of symptoms since service to be not credible.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are rated less than 60% combined and none exceed 40%. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions alone do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and secondary service connection to tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for atopic dermatitis due to new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective May 9, 2016. The Veteran's tinnitus and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are both rated at 10%. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective September 14, 2009. The appeal for increased ratings in other conditions and issues is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) has been granted. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the cause of these conditions being considered direct rather than through a presumption or other specific theory.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of these conditions. The Veteran's service records show no significant noise exposure after service, but he testified that he noticed hearing loss in service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, bilateral knee disorder, foot fungus disorder, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and low back disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service.,There is no current evidence linking any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gall bladder removal scars has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability (claimed as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 1, 2017 onward due to service-connected disabilities. However, the case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU should be awarded from October 1, 2013 to March 1, 2017.