Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the effective date for a 20% rating for his left shoulder disability is set at September 1, 2014. Service connection for left shoulder residual scars is also granted with an effective date of July 18, 2014. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and limitation of extension ratings are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her military service.,Service connection has also been granted for tinnitus, with the Board concluding that there is a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to their schedular ratings, and his employment history suggests he is capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. However, the decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it requires additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 21, 2015.

The Veteran's left knee disability was restored to a 20 percent rating, and service connection for tinnitus was granted. Other issues were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, polysubstance use disorder, neck and back disabilities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as back disability due to secondary service connection. The Veteran needs a new examination with an examiner other than those who previously examined him.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 19, 2018.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also remanded as these conditions are inextricably intertwined with diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the exception that his hearing loss is not due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service due to noise exposure and have continued since.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) preclude them from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's mental health conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence in the record, including a private medical statement from Dr. S.F.A., which is not adequately addressed by the March 2020 VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. Bilateral hearing loss is denied, while tinnitus is granted based on the presumption of service connection due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and knee disabilities, preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since April 11, 2019. The Board has granted TDIU on a schedular basis but remanded the issue of TDIU based solely on service-connected migraine headaches.