Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate, and additional opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his claims of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and thoracolumbar spine disorder. The left wrist disorder claim is still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. However, it denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, concluding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD, erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD, and special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ. Tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and depressive disorder on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him incapable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, his employment impediments and unemployability due to these conditions are deemed by the Board to warrant referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from August 1, 2012. The TDIU is granted subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of compensation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as he did not pursue an appeal under either the legacy or AMA systems.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's right jaw nerve problem, right eye condition, and left knee joint osteoarthritis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 17, 2006, for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis. The evidence did not support TDIU prior to this date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations addressing his functional impairment resulting from service-connected somatic symptom disorder and orthopedic disabilities, including degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional opinions regarding whether there was any increase in severity during service, and if so, whether it is clear and unmistakable that such increase was due to natural progression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who supported the Veteran's assertions of service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding new evidence sufficient to establish that these conditions may be related to in-service noise exposure. The claim is granted as there is reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, with a rating of 60 percent prior to June 6, 2016.,Service connection for asthma is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral bunions is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's tinea cruris is granted with a 60 percent rating, but only prior to June 6, 2016. After that date, the condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are linked to his in-service noise exposure. The decision also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is secondary to his bilateral hearing loss.