Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination findings and lack of consideration of certain separation examination results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and affords him the benefit of doubt, granting service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded due to new evidence being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, secondary to diabetes mellitus, was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.,Service connection for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury remains pending as the claims are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further evaluation. His claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is also being remanded, as well as his TDIU prior to December 20, 2021.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his allergic rhinitis is granted a non-compensable rating prior to August 27, 2015 and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's left ankle disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 22, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability has been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's current diagnoses of left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of his worsening eye and heart disabilities, as well as diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a higher initial rating for bronchial asthma, and issues regarding earlier effective dates and combined ratings. The Veteran is advised to submit additional evidence and attend further examinations as needed.

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 causally related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from March 16, 2011 to March 27, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the evidence did not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 24, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and decreased vision in the left eye due to retinal detachment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a sternum disorder, colonic diverticulitis, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus have been granted. The sternum disorder claim was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. Service connection has been established for the other conditions as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed credible regarding his in-service noise exposure, but a VA examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to obtain outstanding medical records. The Veteran's service treatment records documented normal hearing in both ears during service, but subsequent audiograms have revealed current hearing loss.