Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including depression, knee degenerative joint disease, jaw fracture residuals, sleep apnea, migraines, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, bilateral ear disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is asked to provide additional VA clinical documentation for review.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and he has a current diagnosis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal condition (IBS and GERD) and psychiatric disability are not service connected. Right knee, left knee, right shoulder, low back, and left middle finger conditions remain on appeal.,Further evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to noise exposure during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and were not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began decades after his active military service and have not been attributed to his service.,The Veteran was diagnosed with dementia by the VA Medical Center in November 2020, which is prior to his death. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the dementia at least as likely as not (i.e., the likelihood is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal, if not higher) related to service, including the Veteran's in-service diagnosis and treatment for a sexually transmitted disease in December 1956.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or in-service incurrence. Service connection is also denied for residuals of TBI, speech disorder, learning disorder, and balance problems due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle strain, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are all being remanded for further development.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood it was caused by in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as secondary to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner opined that tinnitus is a known symptom of hearing loss.,The Veteran's initial rating for CAD remains at 10 percent, with the Board noting that there is no evidence of left ventricular dysfunction or cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for tinnitus, but his sleep apnea remains at the 50% level. Other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The claims for low white blood count, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, residuals of ear surgery, and seizure disorder are withdrawn.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.,There is no evidence of a current disability of tinnitus. The Veteran has not submitted medical or lay evidence showing the existence of this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Effective dates for PTSD, right shoulder (major) degenerative arthritis and rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied as the claim was not filed within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's TDIU prior to September 1, 2020 is dismissed due to mootness.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, a left upper extremity disability, and tinnitus.,Service connection is also remanded for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure and acoustic trauma.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral recurrent tinnitus and an unspecified rib condition due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy with CTS of the upper extremities and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 17, 2022.