Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and liver disability (claimed as hepatitis). The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim for prostate disability.,Service connection could not be established for the Veteran's claimed disabilities because there was no evidence that they were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition during or within one year after his military service. The evidence also showed no continuous symptoms of hearing loss since service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Veteran is denied higher ratings for his right knee, left knee, and left knee total arthroplasty conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition of tinnitus or bilateral hearing loss, and the Veteran did not meet the first prong of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inconsistencies with the May 2020 VA examiner's opinion and the need to consider an alternative theory of service connection based on in-service exposure to hazardous substances, including herbicide agents and jet fuel.

The Board denied service connection for right ear mixed hearing loss and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's right ear mixed hearing loss or left ear sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while claims for bilateral hearing loss, skeletal arthritis, a skin condition, and the thoracolumbar spine condition are denied. The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated as requested.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, along with other disabilities, has resulted in a TDIU from February 23, 2016, to March 25, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's credible report of in-service noise exposure and her subsequent diagnosis.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends for a higher rating. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating under either old or new criteria.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no in-service event, injury, or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and incorrect legal standards. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated again by VA clinicians.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with tinnitus and left hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of noise exposure during active duty or within one year after separation from service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to link current tinnitus to any period of Reserve service.

The Veteran's TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted for the period from February 27, 2017, to September 22, 2019. The evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia, was granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a rating of 40 percent from August 31, 2006 to May 16, 2016. From May 16, 2016 to May 2, 2018, he received a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied higher than 40 percent thereafter. His acquired psychiatric disorder was rated in excess of 30 percent from August 31, 2006 to May 16, 2016 and in excess of 50 percent after that date. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 16, 2016 was denied.