Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's mental health disorder claim has been granted, rendering the issue moot.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted as they are related to service-connected conditions.,Advanced dental gingival disease is not a compensable condition eligible for VA compensation.,Service connection for residuals of bladder cancer is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or nexus.,Service connection for residuals of head injury (other than headaches) is denied as there are no current disabilities other than chronic headaches.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate previous VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO is required to obtain a new VA audiological opinion addressing changes in the Veteran’s active duty audiometric data, his contention that he deliberately reported hearing ability during separation, and other relevant factors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a compensable rating for restless leg syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in July 2020, indicating satisfaction with the decision.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, low back disorder, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset during service or were otherwise related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for a psychiatric condition in a separate decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 20, 2016 for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and notification, as well as an incomplete VA examination. The Veteran's service records from his National Guard period need to be obtained for a new medical opinion on the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims and evaluations for various conditions. Effective dates have been granted for PTSD, nephrolithiasis, tinnitus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, obstructive sleep apnea, unequal leg length, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted effective November 3, 2017. The Board found that there is no earlier date of entitlement to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between any service-connected disability and the Veteran's death from congestive heart failure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's periods of qualifying service are unclear and requires further development to verify which portions were ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The AOJ must obtain addendum etiological opinions considering the comprehensive record, including the correct dates of all qualifying service, the correct MOSes, and the Veteran’s contentions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthrosis, right hand disability, DDD, lumbar spine, and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or within a year of separation. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any direct relationship between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, back condition, tinnitus, headache condition, COPD, stomach issues, and bilateral knee condition are being returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have been granted by a June 2020 rating decision. The issues of service connection for a stomach condition, to include GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with anxiety, secondary to service-connected status-post inguinal hernia repairs are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion from a previous VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The examiner needs to provide an updated opinion on whether the Veteran’s hearing loss is related to his service, including conceded in-service noise exposure, and if not, whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.