Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection as it was presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. His tinnitus is also granted service connection, with the presumption that it began during his active duty service. However, his bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to incomplete verification of his Reserve service periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for acoustic neuroma and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions, potential outstanding VA treatment records, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, as evidenced by exposure to constant, excessive noise during his MOS as a chaparral crewman. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his military service, with the same in-service stressors cited for PTSD. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral eye disability including vision loss, and a left foot disability due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records, arrange for VA examinations, and consider special procedures under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311 if applicable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current examination and opinion provided by the July 2018 examiner are deemed inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current diagnosis.,The claims for initial ratings and staged ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction were remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2019 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow gainful employment because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left foot and right foot peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The RO is instructed to obtain deck logs from ships involved in the Veteran's service and confirm his presence at sea off the coast of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts and dry eyes, and other conditions, are found to be of sufficient severity to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 17, 2018.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ankle disability have been granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy (PN), left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,A 40 percent rating has been granted for PN in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran's service records show shifts in hearing that could indicate acoustic trauma, but the current VA opinion is insufficient.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected back disorder, as his other disabilities did not contribute to his unemployability prior to September 13, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, except for the period prior to September 1, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran had worked in a protected work environment since September 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was submitted on August 31, 2015. The Board found that the claim was properly filed and all other requirements were met from that date, granting an effective date of August 31, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted service connection, while a 50% rating is granted for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The issues related to these conditions have been resolved.