Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus, hypertension, and TDIU have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection of left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus) is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted an initial rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis is not established as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left eye diplopia and TDIU on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the current 40 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability, as it accounted for interference with employment due to loss of pilot and state trooper positions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 27, 2018, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus was also denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating is appropriate given the lack of evidence showing marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, specifically his tinnitus, was denied as there was no indication that his service-connected disability alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,Service connection is also not granted for initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for recurrent hepatitis disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records and further examination is required.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities. Service connection is denied for residuals of a left forearm injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports and failure to address certain issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any of his service-connected conditions and his death. The Board also found that none of his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to his withdrawal of these issues. The skin disability claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current chronic skin condition, while the tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate examination opinions. The case is returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as there is no evidence showing that any of his service-connected conditions alone or in combination render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, syncope, tinnitus, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for increased rating of degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded.,A total disability rating based on individual employability prior to December 17, 2018 has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee DJD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee DJD, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under DCs 5260-5262. For TDIU, the Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, and he has met the schedular requirements since October 2011. However, there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities have precluded him from gainful employment.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,A pulmonary disability is remanded for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an examination by a VA pulmonologist to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed pulmonary disability.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability is remanded for an additional VA examination to determine its severity and whether it precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder and tinnitus are granted, but his peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and bilateral upper extremities is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and clarification, including the reopening of a schizophrenia claim and service connection for various psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's right ovary wedge resection is also being addressed with a separate rating.,Additional medical records need to be obtained from SSA and attempts should be made to obtain her full service personnel records.