Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma were denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's low back disability is diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, which the Board finds to have started during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, as he requires assistance with dressing and preparing meals due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical lordosis, and compression fractures and degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The claims of service connection for frostbite residuals of the bilateral feet and a dental condition have been reopened due to new and material evidence, but are still denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on current evidence showing sensorineural hearing loss.,Other issues such as back condition, TBI, vision loss, cerebellum condition, left leg condition, speech condition, and service connection for a dental condition remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since January 13, 2009. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on this basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection for restless leg syndrome is remanded due to lack of sufficient information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his service connection claims, including those related to tinnitus, low back disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and right thumb disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and/or acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates of July 7, 2017, for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal for an earlier effective date of July 7, 2017, for the 40% rating for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted with an effective date of July 7, 2017. Appeals for earlier effective dates of October 23, 2017, for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for nephropathy and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to obtain an independent medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed tinnitus and his service-connected dental disability (right temporomandibular joint disorder with malocclusion, severe anterior open bite, and bruxism) and/or allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to incomplete VA treatment records and a lack of VA examination in connection with these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case.