Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability had its onset during active service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before a final decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The rating for residuals of injury of the right fifth finger remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted, effective October 22, 2013. The decision is based on his service-connected psychiatric disability and other disabilities reaching a combined total of 60 percent or greater.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, back condition, right knee condition, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has vacated the issues of service connection for heat edema of the right lower extremity and an earlier effective date for tinnitus due to a lack of proper notice in the Veteran's initial appeal. The claims are now remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service hearing loss. The claims for right and left ear hearing loss were denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus and residuals of left tympanomastoidectomy with TORP ossicular reconstruction and modified radical mastoidectomy are granted service connection, while the initial rating for hypogeusia is also granted. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for residuals of left tympanomastoidectomy remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis or link to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory condition is denied without sufficient evidence.,Right knee osteoarthritis is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examination, despite the Veteran's previously unavailable service treatment records being located. The Veteran was not provided with clear information about the purpose of the examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss on April 16, 2018. The right shoulder strain rating has been increased to 20 percent since June 26, 2018. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was established on the same date.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.,Right shoulder strain has an effective date of June 26, 2018. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted service connection on the same date.,The Veteran's left hamstring injury residuals and lumbar strain have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.,Left knee strain has an effective date of June 26, 2018. The Veteran's right shoulder strain rating was increased to 20 percent on the same date.,The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee strain have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.

The Board has restored service connection for tinnitus, but the severance of service connection was improper. Service connection for middle back injury and bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause shown.

The Veteran's disability ratings for the period on appeal were sufficient to meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The combined disabilities met the requirement of a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional service-connected disabilities collectively ratable at 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, increased evaluations for bilateral plantar fasciitis with DJD and heel spurs, gout, and shin splints. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of tinnitus or current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 31, 2012.