Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's basic eligibility for Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was established on March 26, 2012, when he received a TDIU rating. The Board found that the effective date could not precede this date due to the permanent and total disability requirement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot condition and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance because there was no evidence that his service-connected disabilities rendered him bedridden or helpless to the extent he needed regular assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and sleep condition (PTSD-related). The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are etiologically related to military service.,Service connection was also granted for hemorrhoids with fistulas and surgery. However, a compensable rating was denied due to lack of functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 18, 2011.

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

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service. The Veteran's noise exposure during active duty was acknowledged but deemed insufficient to establish service connection due to the long passage of time between his separation from service and the onset of symptoms.

The Board denied the claim for TDIU because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is attributable to his active service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.

Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity scar is not rated higher than 10 percent, as the evidence does not support a finding of instability or pain.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of January 19, 2006, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on its manifestation within one year of separation from service and the Veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 30, 2015. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and the effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service. His lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service. His acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of audiometric testing during service. The case is being returned to the VA for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records and exposure information. The Board will schedule medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge from service was not a statutory or regulatory bar to receiving VA benefits, and therefore grants his appeal for PTSD. The status of hearing loss and tinnitus service connection claims is unknown as they have not been addressed on their merits.