Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 13, 2018.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as the weight of evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability was caused by in-service noise exposure.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since active service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, OSA, hemorrhoids, and PTSD are REMANDED.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues regarding missing service treatment records and a need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability is dismissed. The extension of a temporary total rating beyond October 1, 2018, based on a period of convalescence for service-connected back disability is denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including manic depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete VA examination and lack of complete service personnel records. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA audiology examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent since December 4, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's enlarged spleen and liver disorders.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his tinnitus and chest disability was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (10%) is appropriate, and there is no evidence of a current chest disability diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right ear disability is related to service. Additional VA medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's incarceration and failure to report for VA examinations.,The Board has also remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left leg disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and sleep apnea that may be present.,Additional records have been obtained since the last decision, including VA treatment records. The AOJ should ensure compliance with these directives and take any corrective action if needed.,The Board notes that the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD is granted. The claim for right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis is denied. The claim for tinnitus (secondary to service-connected disability) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional evidence received after certification to the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, and left heel disorder.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, peripheral vestibular disorder, and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for additional development regarding the peripheral vestibular disorder and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his disabilities are not so exceptional that it renders application of the regular schedular ratings impractical. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before December 17, 2015.