Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board is remanding these issues due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted entitlement to service connection. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen his right shoulder disability claim remains pending, as does the issue of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current tinnitus disorder which had its onset during his active duty. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms are consistent with his military service and there is no evidence of pre-service hearing loss. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral hand and finger condition, and bilateral foot condition for further development.

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 in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records, request missing VA outpatient records, and schedule new medical examinations or obtain medical nexus opinions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an audiogram and for obtaining updated VA treatment records. An addendum opinion is needed from an audiologist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including its relation to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to September 10, 2019, was denied. A 70% disability rating for PTSD from that date onwards is granted.,The Veteran's skin condition remains pending as the issue has been remanded.

Service connection is granted for Major Depressive Disorder, OSA, CAD, and Hypertension as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's low back disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, sinusitis, and thyroid disease are not currently service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU rating as his disabilities are not severe enough to render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, both claimed as secondary to service-connected mycosis fungoides. The remand requires an addendum opinion from the ENT examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss or tinnitus first manifested during active service or are causally related to his noise exposure during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential outstanding treatment records not being associated with his case file. The claims are also remanded for another VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all evidence of record, including the Veteran's reports of continuous hearing problems since discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unemployable at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, other than his PTSD, did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran’s remaining service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.