Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a chronic disability present during or within one year after service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his income from self-employment as a farmer exceeded the poverty level and he was not unemployable.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions and issues were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, IBS, and low back pain characterized by scoliosis, degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal stenosis. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a current disability related to service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral shoulder pain and bilateral hip pain. The Board found no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and thus grants his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, with the Board finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's effective date for SMC based on housebound status is granted as of June 15, 2010. This decision was inferred from the evidence showing that the Veteran met criteria for SMC at this time.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, a cervical spine condition, and a thoracolumbar spine condition have been dismissed without prejudice to refiling.,The Veteran’s appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia has also been dismissed.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse, left shoulder recurrent dislocations and scar, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The attorney is entitled to 20% of any past-due benefits awarded as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for low back condition, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to tinnitus), and carpal tunnel syndrome of bilateral upper extremities.

The Veteran's skin disorder, CAD, sinus disorder, and vertigo are all remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pain, right knee disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of whether he was unemployable prior to September 5, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, IBS, tinnitus, left ankle sprain, and right ear hearing loss, do not render him unemployable as his employment history shows he has been able to maintain some level of education and work experience. The Board finds the evidence does not demonstrate total occupational impairment associated with these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not demonstrate that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (secondary to hearing loss), left hip osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of evidence from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the tinnitus claim is final, while the hearing loss claim remains pending.