Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and he needs an examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection as they are related to his active duty service. The lumbosacral strain, bilateral foot disability, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested in service and is related to her active duty, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, including noise exposure. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical evidence in the August 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

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

The Veteran's pleural plaques with COPD and chronic pleural effusion are rated at 30 percent from April 9, 2018. Special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted. The issue of special monthly compensation based on housebound status prior to December 14, 2018, is moot due to the award of aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied because the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it originated in service or within one year after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of an injury of a toe of the right foot, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not show current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure, and the Board affords the benefit of doubt to his claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, and shin splints for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for myoclonus (to include TBI).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since August 22, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence showing his disability prevented him from working outside of his protected environment.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma.

Your claim for service connection for tinnitus has been previously denied by the Board and is now dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, granting his claim for service connection.