Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is aggravated by his tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is now service-connected.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is now service-connected.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service hazardous noise exposure, but denied his claim for tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as his dry eyes and skin disability (claimed as eczema) are remanded for further development. Hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiograms at separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis during the period from December 5, 2016, to April 30, 2017, is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration. The Board will not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim until it is so referred and considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the functional impairment of the Veteran's reported intermittent headaches, nausea, and vertigo, including their relationship to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for PTSD has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

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 relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because service connection for tinnitus was granted in a September 2020 rating decision, which means the Veteran received the full benefit sought on appeal.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fascitis, left foot plantar fascitis, sciatica, rhinitis, sinusitis, and headaches as the evidence does not support a current disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to failure to notify the Veteran of his scheduled VA audiological examinations, and because there is no evidence confirming that he was notified of these exams.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as secondary to medication for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to hazardous noise during service, but his MOS had a low probability of such exposure. Additional private records are needed from Dr. R.V.T., and an addendum opinion must be provided.