Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of substantial compliance with its November 2019 remand, specifically regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner must address studies cited by the Veteran in his briefs regarding delayed onset hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus started during active duty service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no in-service event or medical nexus connecting his disabilities to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, right thumb disability with flexor tendon entrapment, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 27, 2012.,Eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also denied as the Veteran did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability at any time before August 27, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it is related to military service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied, with the Board concluding there is not enough evidence to support a link between the condition and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions have been remanded due to lack of examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ear hearing loss. The issue of cold weather injury residuals remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a lung condition (other than sleep apnea), left ear hearing loss, and gastritis/GERD are all denied. An effective date of May 17, 2011 is granted for the grant of service connection for gastritis/GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for arthritis and a right ankle disorder is denied.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to tinnitus, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates set at April 2, 2018. The rating assigned is 10 percent for bronchitis and cervical neck strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to revise a March 1969 rating decision that denied service connection for tinnitus aurium, and has changed the effective date of this award from August 14, 2003 to December 15, 1968.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to June 19, 2017 due to his employment status and income records.