Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity and etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee tendonitis, depressive disorder, and COPD for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn.,The reduction of the disability rating for thoracolumbar myofascial strain with IVDS from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper, and the rating is restored. The issues regarding TDIU, headaches, cervical myofascial strain, thoracolumbar myofascial strain, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities, bilateral shoulders, and bilateral hands are remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient reasoning in the June 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea were granted service connection based on new evidence received after the September 9, 2014 rating decision.,An effective date of July 31, 2013 was granted for the right shoulder disability. Effective dates for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea were denied as they predate April 2, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and treatment records, as well as verification of his Reserve duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence. Service connection is granted for kidney cancer, but hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there is an inadequate opinion in the VA examination report. Esophageal cancer is also remanded as there is no VA examination or opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied because the Veteran did not have any complaints or treatment related to tinnitus during service, and his current condition is more likely associated with post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, headache disability, PFB, bilateral pes planus, and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development as there may be outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The appeal is remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records dating back to 1966. A new VA examination is also required for the PUD with IBS claim.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating before May 15, 2018, or for a 100 percent rating thereafter. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed insufficient to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for PTSD and left knee disability, and denied service connection for tinnitus. Right eye vision loss and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinea pedis, allergic rhinosinusitis, back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (including a rash on the legs and buttocks), and hypertension due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records and consider whether his current hearing loss disability meets VA's definition of a disability.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran contends that he developed this condition during active duty due to noise exposure. However, there are no service treatment records documenting the onset or diagnosis of tinnitus. A remand is necessary to obtain an updated medical opinion addressing whether his current tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from August 10, 2009, to July 24, 2010.