Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's interstitial pneumonia is also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection with a rating of 10 percent effective November 2017, and as a result, he is now assigned to priority group 3 for treatment in the VA healthcare system for income year 2018. He is only required to make copayments at the rate of a Veteran in priority group 3.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus and heart disability. However, both claims are remanded as additional medical opinions and examinations are needed due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's service records.

The Board has decided to remand both claims of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran not attending a scheduled VA audiological examination. The matter is being returned to the AOJ for rescheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to service exposure. The VA examiner must provide a rationale explaining why or why not the noise exposure during military service caused the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, including for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of a left elbow condition. The Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected chronic prostatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, but further examination is needed for the hearing loss claim.

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 service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no legal basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and ED are not service connected. The RO is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were incurred in service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning on January 11, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. Prior to this date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, and he is now receiving a 70 percent disability rating. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted, and an effective date of September 6, 2019 has been established. The earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is also granted. The combined rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has been recalculated and confirmed as 40 percent effective September 6, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was received on May 15, 2020. The effective date of the grant of service connection is fixed at the date of receipt of the claim, which is May 15, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no prior claim or denial concerning these benefits.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for CAD has also been denied due to the lack of a prior claim or denial.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for arthritis pain in the upper back and neck. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military noise exposure, while his left ear hearing loss is linked to his service due to exposure to hazardous noise. However, there is no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or arthritis pain in the upper back and neck during service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to the failure to obtain a VA audiological evaluation, which was related to his in-service noise exposure. The case will be further reviewed with a new examination.