Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, effective from November 29, 2016. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss have been granted.,Service connection has been established for both conditions based on noise exposure during active military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU prior to October 27, 2020, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment before this date.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence includes VA treatment records, a private physician's November 2019 Back Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), and the Veteran's hearing testimony.,The Board finds that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for a back disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence includes VA treatment records, a private physician's November 2019 Back Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), and the Veteran's hearing testimony.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise during service.

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

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 27, 2019 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history. His TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees are proximately due to or aggravated by medications taken to treat her service-connected PTSD.,Entitlement to service connection for a reproductive disorder, specifically PCOS and partial hysterectomy, is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to in-service use of Depo Provera.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric conditions, gastroenteritis, hepatitis B and C, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and a right wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 14, 2021 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are reopened. The Veteran is granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 20 percent rating for chronic pain disorder has been granted, effective October 30, 2017.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a TDIU on a schedular basis due to insufficient evidence. The claim for a TDIU is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing levels do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion to assess whether the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than loss of use of both feet, specifically lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, lymphoma, diabetes, retinopathy, hearing loss, and tinea cruris.