Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the medical opinion provided in October 2020, which did not address the specific issues identified and failed to provide an extensive etiological discussion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions, lack of evidence regarding in-service noise exposure, and need for additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the issues are moot due to their favorable resolution in a prior rating decision.,The Veteran's skin disorder has been granted service connection, with the Board finding that his current condition is related to his inservice diagnosis of tinea cruris.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and securing substantially gainful employment that is consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), tinnitus, headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) effective June 9, 2018. Effective dates prior to this date are denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal of issues related to service connection for gastritis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and a compensable rating for facial scars associated with PFB. The issue regarding the character of discharge for the period from March 1977 to March 1979 was resolved in favor of the Veteran, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus and right knee disability for further development, including obtaining in-service clinical records from Elmendorf Hospital and providing VA opinions on their etiology.

The Board has determined that the VA audiologist's opinion did not fully respond to the remand directives and is therefore insufficient. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded once again.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to potential deficiencies in the October 2019 VA medical opinion. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was present during service and continues to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability. Service connection is also warranted for left ear hearing loss disability, but the matter is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to his service-connected PTSD, as he testified that it has worsened since his last examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the September 2020 VA examination report.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular thresholds for a TDIU, and there was no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.