Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, his employment impediments and unemployability due to these conditions are deemed by the Board to warrant referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from August 1, 2012. The TDIU is granted subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of compensation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as he did not pursue an appeal under either the legacy or AMA systems.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's right jaw nerve problem, right eye condition, and left knee joint osteoarthritis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 17, 2006, for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis. The evidence did not support TDIU prior to this date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations addressing his functional impairment resulting from service-connected somatic symptom disorder and orthopedic disabilities, including degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional opinions regarding whether there was any increase in severity during service, and if so, whether it is clear and unmistakable that such increase was due to natural progression.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who supported the Veteran's assertions of service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding new evidence sufficient to establish that these conditions may be related to in-service noise exposure. The claim is granted as there is reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, with a rating of 60 percent prior to June 6, 2016.,Service connection for asthma is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral bunions is denied. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's tinea cruris is granted with a 60 percent rating, but only prior to June 6, 2016. After that date, the condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are linked to his in-service noise exposure. The decision also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is secondary to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The claims for service connection for right knee disability, high cholesterol, and hypertension were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (PTSD), left hip disability, and depression has been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and urethritis have been granted. The claim for left foot laceration 2nd/3rd digit is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.