Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his employment is considered substantially gainful and he does not qualify under the specific provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus likely began during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is the cause of his current hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there are issues with the existing VA opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim due to potential discrepancies in audiometric data standards.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 6, 2010 to August 20, 2012. For the period prior to January 22, 2018, his PTSD was rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition other than hypertension, presumed due to herbicide exposure in service, is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for neurodermatitis prior to February 6, 2020, and a rating in excess of 60 percent effective from February 6, 2020, are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from November 20, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for a left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective August 1, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and related symptoms prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are found to be related to the Veteran's exposure to loud/hazardous noise in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is not in dispute, but further clarification on their etiology is needed.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, along with other service-connected conditions, is rated at 40 percent. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current tinnitus and service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was properly calculated using the Combined Ratings Table, resulting in a 90 percent rating as of May 14, 2002. The earlier effective date for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, abdominal disorder, GERD, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his claims for sleep apnea, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, esophageal varices, cirrhosis, and gallstones are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.