Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The appeal as to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeals to reopen the claims for service connection for heart disability, vertigo, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were caused by in-service noise exposure. The TBI is also service-connected as it was proximately due to the service-connected back disability.,Service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities is granted as these conditions are secondary to the service-connected back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have started during service and has continued since.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, noting that it did not meet the criteria for chronic disease under presumptive service connection and found the opinion inadequate due to the Veteran's reported history of tinnitus since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated examinations and additional opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including residuals of a right 5th metacarpal fracture, cervical strain, lumbar strain, TBI, tinnitus, and PTSD. The AOJ should ensure that these examinations are scheduled and completed.

The claim of service connection for hearing loss is denied.,The claims of effective date earlier than June 17, 2017, for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome are both denied.,The claim of a rating higher than 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic attacks is denied.,The claim of an earlier effective date for the grant of 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic attacks is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with cognitive/memory issues, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine condition, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder). The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for unspecified insomnia disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating. The claim for TDIU from March 1, 2019 forward was granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to issues with the validity of the audiometric test results and the need for additional testing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 20, 2015.,Prior to June 20, 2015, the Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings and effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these appeals by his representative.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and right elbow disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 15, 2018; rather his nonservice-connected disabilities contributed to his unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for chronic back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and tinnitus were granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records, particularly regarding the nature and etiology of non-lupus ear disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected lupus is not considered in determining whether his current ear disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cough-variant asthma, thoracolumbar scoliosis, left shoulder tendinitis with clavicle fracture, tinnitus, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, residuals of otitis media, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are rated at 70 percent combined from December 2, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these disabilities, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, neurocognitive disorder, and erectile dysfunction remain unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a laceration on the 4th digit of the left hand, chronic sinusitis, headaches, and dizziness. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current conditions and active service.