Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes, and related neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, with the presumption that it began during service and has persisted since.

The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, esophageal disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, esophageal disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.,For tinnitus, the Board found it likely not caused by military noise exposure but rather a symptom of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service separation.,For the mental disability, the Board found that the current level of impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, both issues are still pending as they were remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since April 29, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU for the periods from April 29, 2015 to June 9, 2016 and from August 1, 2018 to May 20, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the claims were abandoned due to the Veteran not following up with a formal application within one year of submitting an informal claim. The effective date is set at November 5, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claim for an adequate VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's varicose veins are aggravated by his service-connected Meniere's syndrome with bilateral hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claim for an adequate VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's varicose veins are aggravated by his service-connected Meniere's syndrome with bilateral hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders were caused by or related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus due to unclear service connection periods. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is denied. The Board also remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and a skin disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic lumbar strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since February 22, 2019. His TDIU is granted effective that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for tinnitus was also granted. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as well, with a need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is his PTSD with an initial rating of 50 percent. The low back disability issue has been remanded.