Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for lower back, right hip, left hip, right hand, left hand, right finger(s), left finger(s), and dizziness are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, nor does the evidence show that he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment solely as a result of his service-connected disabilities. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU, including on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's complaints of hearing loss in service are at least as likely as not related to his current condition. The Board also found that his tinnitus is secondary to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, tinnitus, left wrist disability, and hearing loss in the left ear, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in service or within one year of separation, and the Board found no evidence linking it to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in an August 2006 rating decision. The claim of service connection for a head injury was also denied, but reopened due to new evidence submitted.,An effective date prior to August 17, 2016, is denied for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence to support a relationship between his in-service noise exposure and his current tinnitus. The decision also notes that normal hearing upon separation does not necessarily disqualify a service connection claim for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 18, 2015. The decision denies entitlement to TDIU based on the schedular rating and lack of additional service-connected disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and rated at 10%.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection on secondary basis and rated at 10%.,The Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with myofascial pain syndrome of the thoracic spine is granted a rating of 40% prior to May 24, 2019 and thereafter.,The Veteran's chronic neck strain is granted a rating of 20%.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20%.,The Veteran’s right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20%.,The Veteran’s left leg shin splints are denied.,The Veteran’s right leg shin splints are denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for tinnitus remains pending as the issue has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in a prior VA examination. The Veteran needs to be reexamined to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for chronic headaches, which are claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The remand is due to an incomplete VA medical opinion that did not address whether the Veteran's tinnitus aggravates his headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous decision and needs further clarification on whether tinnitus is related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that these conditions are causally related to his noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current disability of either condition, and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete responses in the addendum opinion regarding conversion of audiometric findings to ISO-ANSI standard, and a need for further discussion on the impact of noise exposure from service.