Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted a TDIU, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and dismissed the issue of SMC at the housebound rate. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of service-connected duty status and the specific incidents that may have caused these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, initial rating for anxiety disorder, and TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to these conditions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiology examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but his tinnitus is considered to have begun during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for a combined disability rating greater than 80 percent from July 29, 1997, to August 9, 2001, and greater than 90 percent from August 9, 2001, to June 27, 2002. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 13, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including undifferentiated somatoform disorder and anxiety disorder with mood swings, lack of concentration, memory loss and fatigue, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him prior to October 20, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the May 2012 VA examination report.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to his motor vehicle accident caused by medications taken for his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for awards of service connection were not granted earlier than specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for impetigo and folliculitis, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis were denied. The appeals for higher initial ratings for PTSD prior to March 16, 2016; an initial compensable rating for tinnitus; and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) is granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is currently employed as a maintenance engineer at St. Francis Medical Center, which does not render him unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bladder cancer with radical cystoprostatectomy and urostomy is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The Veteran's tinnitus was denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right foot/ankle fracture and tinnitus are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.