Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 11, 2014 for the award of a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, for the claim period from January 17, 2020 forward. The decision is based on the Veteran's inability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death based on new and relevant evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no medical evidence showing that any service-connected disability contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to a duty to assist error in the May 2020 rating decision. A new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran’s MOS and noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, but needs further clarification on when the symptoms began and whether they are caused or aggravated by the hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including education in Eastern Medicine, is remanded due to the need for further development and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering all of the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The regional office will review this evidence and consider its impact on the claims.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun in service and has persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple musculoskeletal issues and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 12, 2010. His TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, tissue damage, nerve damage, and an eye disability (right eye) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that it was not caused by an in-service event or injury and is not related to his service-connected depression.

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

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,Service connection for DMII and a heart condition have been granted, with the effective date being April 18, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.,An effective date prior to April 18, 2018 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied due to lack of evidence within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during active service. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria, while his tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of onset or continuity since service.,For the back condition issue, the Board directed a remand to obtain medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s pre-existing back condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, a chronic gynecological disorder, and chronic headaches as the evidence did not meet the criteria for these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because there is no current disability meeting VA's threshold for hearing impairment or other claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee condition, and left hip condition is granted. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are also reopened.,The Board has determined that new evidence received since the previous final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee, and left hip.