Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and bilateral tinnitus, made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 6, 2014. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at October 18, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active duty.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction as he did not properly appeal these claims using the required VA form.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder was dismissed as the appeal had already been activated into the Board’s Legacy appeals system.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The June 2019 audiometric test results showed that the Veteran met criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, which is the maximum allowed under DC 6100.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as it already received the maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus was denied. The June 2019 audiometric test results showed that the Veteran met criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, which is the maximum allowed under DC 7913.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 9, 2019 for the award of an increased 100 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease status post myocardial infraction and coronary artery bypass graft surgery was denied. The increase in disability did not meet the one-year criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 9, 2019 for basic eligibility for Dependents’ Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was denied as he had a permanent and total service-connected disability from May 9, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 9, 2019 for the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria was denied as his disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of additional dependent compensation for his spouse is granted, with the effective date set at March 1, 2019.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning December 1, 2010 due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty annual training in June 2014 and are related to this period of service. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding onset and continuation of his tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right and left knee disabilities has been withdrawn.,Service connection for migraine headaches and tinnitus have been granted, with the issue of diabetes being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his tinnitus, left ankle disability, and left elbow degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his in-service noise exposure.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for an anxiety disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for hearing loss of the left ear was denied as there is no current disability. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 24, 2007 is being remanded for further consideration by the Director, Compensation Service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus), and bilateral knee disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lung disability due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other valid basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, and he is entitled to a rating more than 10 percent for his right wrist scar after October 9, 2014. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.