Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, hypertension, right foot and left foot disabilities, and hip disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a medical opinion regarding whether tinnitus is at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, as there is a reasonable doubt about whether his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is denied prior to January 17, 2019. From January 17, 2019, his case was dismissed as moot due to concurrent awards of SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as VA did not obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service. The claims are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance with respect to whether these conditions had their onset during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the etiology of these conditions, with some opinions suggesting they are related to service.

Service connection granted for Grave's disease (hypothyroidism) and readjudication of the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is required. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder (arthritis), and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim was denied.

The appeal for increased ratings for PTSD is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but the appeal for service connection of temporal bone tumor is remanded.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder.,As of January 10, 2014, the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The issue is remanded for further consideration prior to January 10, 2014.

The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the severity of these conditions alone, as they meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of pterygium of the left eye and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the decision on bilateral hearing loss is pending as it requires further examination and evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable from June 7, 2012, to December 5, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence showed he was not unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied. The issues of service connection for a kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or was related to in-service noise exposure, and he failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.