Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability has also been granted.,A remand was ordered to address the issue of service connection for a shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD with AFIB and cardiomyopathy, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety), erectile dysfunction, and chronic fatigue. The issues are related to the in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his back pain, arthritis, PTSD, tinnitus, eye condition, and skin cancer.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on tinnitus and residuals of a laceration of the scalp have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded cases involving service connection, rating, and TDIU claims related to various conditions including PTSD, TBI, sinusitis, meningioma, and tympanic membrane disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus due to issues with the separation examination report, including the absence of a hearing test at discharge. The case is returned for further review by an examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, various knee conditions, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Issues related to increased ratings for PTSD, Lisfranc fracture of the right foot, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, hypertension with chest pain, low back condition, tinnitus, radiculopathy, patellar subluxation, painful motion in knees and feet, and hearing loss, precluded him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment beginning July 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory condition and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to tinnitus, have been denied due to lack of a medical nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective March 2, 2016. A higher rating is denied.,An earlier effective date of March 2, 2016 for a TDIU is granted due to the increase in PTSD symptoms beginning that month.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent effective March 2, 2016. A higher rating is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An initial compensable rating of 0% and a rating in excess of 10% beginning April 25, 2017 are denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to left shoulder, back, hearing loss, tinnitus, right-hand disability, and acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD and depression) are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA is required to provide a medical examination or obtain an opinion if it is necessary to make a decision on these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The VA examiner's opinion is deemed insufficient, as it did not consider the concept of delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his period of active service.,Bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that effective dates earlier than the assigned ones cannot be granted for various claims due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the claim.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from August 3, 2009 to December 28, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for new VA medical opinions due to a failure to identify and correct VA's duty to assist.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence and further examination.