Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (stressor related disorder claimed as PTSD). The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final rating decision. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, a condition diagnosed in service and continuing since then, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are granted an increased rating of 20 percent. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a midline chest scar, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and the skin disorder service connection claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reports of military acoustic trauma and continuous symptoms since service are highly probative evidence supporting the claim. The decision is based on the presumption of combat-related injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete VA treatment records and an inadequate examination. The AOJ is required to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from Hines VAMC, and schedule a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches have been granted service connection, while his vision problems are denied. The Veteran is also awarded a 50% disability rating for his service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a causal link to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as they have no jurisdiction.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus has been dismissed due to the Veteran’s death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his service due to noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet, and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder (MDD). The evidence received since the February 2011 rating decision is not material.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for tinnitus and has determined that he meets the criteria for service connection. The decision affirms that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service, despite some conflicting evidence regarding its onset and continuity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral hip disorder, a right thigh scar, pes planus, and vision disability due to lack of current disabilities at the time of filing or during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as related to acoustic trauma during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the tinnitus is related to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating, as the audiometric findings did not warrant a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent was already assigned for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acne, and migraine/headache disorder are remanded due to inadequate examinations.