Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as the current opinion is inadequate.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's left hand condition, cervical condition, and right hand condition are not service connected.,Service connection for a heart condition, to include ischemic heart disease is remanded as the Board finds that VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability, left foot disability, and low back disability due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under the applicable criteria. The Board finds that an increased evaluation for tinnitus in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. For the remaining issues on appeal, the Veteran's right hip and knee conditions are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, anxiety) and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Board found that the Veteran's personality disorders and substance abuse disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, right ankle disorder, bruised ribs and right kidney disorder, pain in eyes to include seeing floaters, tinnitus, poor blood circulation (hands & feet blotchy), migraine headaches, and bilateral hand tremors are all denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right knee total knee replacement and hearing loss, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's own statements contradict his previous assertion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of in-service noise exposure, which led to current disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to his military service and granting him the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they require additional evidence, specifically service treatment records from his Army Reserves period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral pes planus, but denied these claims. The Board also remanded several issues related to knee disabilities and TDIU prior to April 24, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that September 29, 2016 is the correct date for these grants.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer (due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities, in combination, did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity paralysis and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.