Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for chronic right ankle deltoid ligament sprain have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to April 29, 2013, finding that the Veteran did not meet the schedular rating criteria and his service-connected disabilities were not shown to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was first manifested during service and is granted. The ventral hernia, back condition, right foot condition, left foot condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and degenerative disc syndrome, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including right and left lower extremity cold injury residuals, peripheral neuropathy due to cold weather injury, tinnitus, and cervical spine DDD, were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination opinion. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which may be related to his military service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, so his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU is granted. The Board found the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms being less severe than those warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD are denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD is granted but the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active service. However, the Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection, with a 50% rating for PTSD. The lumbosacral strain disability has been denied an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is not related to his service-connected frostbite residuals of the ears and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, back disability, headaches secondary to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea is not reopened. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective from February 8, 2018. An earlier effective date for the increased PTSD rating cannot be established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2012. Effective as of that date, he is granted a TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the time period from March 22, 2010, to March 14, 2012.