Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a lower extremity, blindness, or full thickness burns. Therefore, he is not eligible for financial assistance for specially adapted housing.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his service and was denied.,The Veteran's chronic labyrinthitis in the right ear (claimed as vertigo) is not related to his service and was denied.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction disability does not warrant a compensable rating and was denied.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment and TDIU was granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability within VA standards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, and radiculopathy, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by or incurred during active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that prior to August 6, 2014, the Veteran did not meet the schedular rating requirements for TDIU and there was no evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, frostbite residuals, and recurrent tinnitus, are at least in equipoise with his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating, and a higher rating for tinnitus is denied. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during the Veteran's period of active service.

The claim for an effective date earlier than April 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis (flexion) as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis (OA) is denied.,An earlier effective date of April 15, 2014 for service connection for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as there is insufficient evidence of record by which to make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective January 19, 2012. The decision is based on the severity of his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.,The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart condition (as secondary to hypertension), bilateral hearing loss, and dental treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are directly related to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, both conditions are denied as there is no evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is linked to noise exposure during service and his already service-connected right ear hearing loss, which the Board found was a causal factor. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.