Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone level, a neurological disability, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish these conditions as being incurred in or aggravated by his military service.,There is no credible evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions of tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone level, a neurological disability, and/or an acquired psychiatric disorder to his active duty service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2014. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's OSA is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 6, 2011. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his OSA was denied because no formal or informal claim prior to June 6, 2011 has been filed.,The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran’s physical limitations due to his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his left shoulder disability, low back disability, disabilities of both knees, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability are denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are currently service-connected. The claims for these conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The initial rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his service-connected right shoulder and knee conditions, as well as consideration of whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have its onset in service, while his hearing loss is not related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his service and has continued since, warranting service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last final denial, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet are related to his military service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disability, diagnosed as posterior tibial tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began as a result of in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to his acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.