Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's TDIU rating and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to July 17, 2017 are granted due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored service connection for tinnitus as the initial grant of service connection was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted effective from the date of receipt of the claim. The Veteran is rated at 100% for his psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran was found to have met the criteria for eligibility for schedular consideration of TDIU since March 26, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began in March 2011 if not sooner, which is more than one year prior to the filing of the TDIU application. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU cannot be awarded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may prove or disprove their existence.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed as you have withdrawn your request.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus, but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted service connection. The Veteran's type two diabetes mellitus, bilateral open angle glaucoma, and tinnitus are not granted increased ratings. The Veteran's sinusitis, tonsillectomy residuals, right wrist Dequervain's syndrome, right ring finger fracture, erectile dysfunction, and right epididymitis status post epididymectomy do not warrant increased ratings. A TDIU is granted from October 1, 2007 to February 28, 2013, and from January 22, 2018 on.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure to notify him of the rescheduled VA examination, and for further development including scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hand disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD status post CABG due to outstanding private treatment records and additional opinions needed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to lack of an examination. The examiner must consider the conceded noise exposure during service and provide a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted due to continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred before the March 2018 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, sleep apnea with COPD, and erectile dysfunction, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there was no evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was received on February 27, 2019. The Board found that the effective date cannot be earlier than February 27, 2019 as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to file such a claim before this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,Headaches are not service-connected.,Thyroid disability is not service-connected.,PTSD is rated based on its current symptoms.