Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case is now remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as both conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as both conditions are rated based on their severity under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The cases of respiratory condition, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and residuals stab wound, left forearm are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and there is no reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service. Service connection was denied for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the presumption provisions. Memory loss was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 7, 2014.,The Veteran is currently entitled to a TDIU rating on a schedular basis effective September 8, 2015. However, his case was remanded for additional development regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus is being evaluated without medication, and an addendum opinion on the severity of her cervical spine disability is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU prior to June 21, 2012. The evidence of record is against a finding that his service-connected disabilities resulted in an inability to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful course of employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are inextricably intertwined with a previous decision on service connection. The VA will obtain missing service treatment records, including those from reserve service, and schedule an appropriate examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to active service or aggravated by pre-existing conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting opinions from previous VA examiners and discrepancies in the Veteran's reported exposure history. The case must be returned for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disease, hematuria, vertigo/vestibular disorder, and chronic cerumen buildup of the left ear. The claims for tinnitus have not been readjudicated as no new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, diabetic retinopathy, and tension headaches. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the cases of spinocerebellar ataxia and tinnitus due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (dysthymic disorder and depression) due to VA treatment. The Veteran contends that her conditions were caused or aggravated by VA care.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and extraschedular TDIU, finding that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.