Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria to establish service connection due to a lack of evidence showing in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and service. The Veteran's current disabilities were not shown to have manifested within one year of discharge from service or be otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD, low back disorder, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service and have been recurrent since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with depression, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for at least some portion of the relevant period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service, and that current disabilities are not causally related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, which is conceded, and his current symptoms are related to this exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to December 24, 2018 has been withdrawn. The claim for SMC at the housebound rate prior to December 24, 2018 is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for permanent housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's hearing loss is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

Service connection is granted for right knee condition, back condition, left lower extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability.,Service connection is denied for left knee condition. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue during the hearing.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to acoustic trauma sustained during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and schizoid personality disorder) are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.,The claim for brain damage is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted as they are related to service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a bilateral knee disorder. The case is now remanded to determine if VA examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating from January 15, 2020. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU for the period prior to January 15, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not reopened, but his claim for tinnitus was reopened. His claim for pulmonary fibrosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to asbestos, TCE, and herbicide agents.