Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the June 2014 VA examination.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for tinnitus as moot because it was granted in a previous rating decision. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 4, 2009. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 29, 2012 and on a schedular basis thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the effects of Cortisporin otic solution used during service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss for additional development due to issues with arranging an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment for the period prior to July 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral flatfeet with hallux valgus have been granted. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is based on direct evidence of a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. For tinnitus, the Board found that the Veteran's testimony about experiencing ringing in his ears during active service was credible enough to establish a service connection. The flatfeet condition claim remains pending as it requires further review by VA medical professionals.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the disabilities had their onset in service due to acoustic trauma during basic training and grenade training.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hand condition, left hand condition, hypertension, heart condition, prostate condition, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder.,All remaining issues are remanded to further develop evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no causal relationship between his active service and his current condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the claim for low back disability is remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an error in scheduling a VA audiology examination. The Veteran must be provided another opportunity to report for such an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and relevant evidence that was not previously considered. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's active military service and his current bilateral hearing loss.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the Veteran's credible report of its onset within a year of separation from service, consistent with high noise exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reconsider the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's testimony provides new information about his military noise exposure, which may prove an element of each claim.