Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not service-connected due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms, and the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. For the initial rating period on appeal from June 6, 2017, a disability rating of 70 percent was granted for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, while his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the threshold established by VA regulations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his active service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was not incurred during service and is unrelated to noise exposure in service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus as secondary to medications taken for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and sacroiliac weakness. The right hip and left hip disability issues are remanded.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 9, 2009 for the grant of TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision is based on direct service connection due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the remand instructions and has therefore ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and that the Veteran's tinnitus is more likely due to a middle ear problem rather than in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss, as well as verify his employment history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory condition (previously evaluated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and memory loss are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities due to their secondary nature to the Veteran's service-connected bladder cancer.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's left knee condition, including dislocation with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion, is rated at 20 percent effective July 10, 2014. The right knee disability secondary to the service-connected left hip disability has been referred for further review. Effective October 2, 2017, SMC was granted based on the Veteran's combined rating of 60 percent due to his additional disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, a chronic skin rash on the arms, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's assertions regarding the etiology of his current disorders were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and credible testimony of its onset during service.