Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a request for additional information.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for bone cancer is denied as it was metastasized from the previously service-connected bladder cancer. The appeal for tinnitus has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service or a service-connected disability. The claim for TDIU was granted, and the issue of rating in excess of 60 percent for asbestosis is remanded.

The appeal of a service connection claim for albuminuria is dismissed. The service connection claims for insomnia, tinnitus, anemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), bilateral knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), plantar fasciitis, acquired psychiatric disability, female sexual arousal disorder, and tinea pedis are referred back to the Regional Office for appropriate development and adjudication.

The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted as they are associated with in-service acoustic trauma, though the VA examiner did not concur.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether it began during service and was related to noise exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus and that competent and credible lay evidence indicates it likely began on or around the time of in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prominent, tender tibial tubercles, bilateral knees, sarcoidosis, chronic urticaria, lower back injury, and frequent trouble sleeping are remanded due to missing VA treatment records. Additional development may be necessary including obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a bilateral foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for prostate cancer and TDIU was denied. The prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent, the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA addendum opinion regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to diesel and gasoline fumes in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim prior to a decision.,Service connection for tinnitus and vertigo were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded, and any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus have all been granted service connection. The neck disability is linked to an in-service injury during active duty for training.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for tardive dyskinesia is granted, and she is awarded a TDIU from January 31, 2014 to November 25, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms from service, and the VA examiners concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be service-connected.,Ischemic heart disease was rated at 10 percent prior to September 29, 2015, but a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with a rating of 70% effective from December 20, 2017.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the effective date being January 1, 2015.,Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 24, 2011 is granted. The effective date for TDIU is January 1, 2015.