Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as a presumptive condition due to in-service noise exposure. The initial rating for his scar, left knee status-post meniscus repair and lateral meniscectomy is granted at 10 percent. His hearing loss is found not to be service-connected. Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,The Board finds that the Veteran’s claims for service connection for back disability, tinnitus, and headache disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hearing loss and tinnitus were not contributory causes of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to deficiencies in the examination and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis, as the Veteran reported continuous symptoms since service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of direct or presumptive evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board will consider whether in-service noise exposure caused or aggravated his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential pre-existence during service and aggravation by service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral lower extremities have precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment due to physical and mental impairments.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include voiding dysfunction, renal dysfunction, PTSD, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 21, 2020 and at 50 percent since then.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as it is not shown to be related to the service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, including as secondary to type II diabetes, was denied because there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted due to its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

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

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD.,PTSD symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied because he was not continuously rated as totally disabled for a period of at least ten years prior to his death, nor was he continuously rated as totally disabled for a period of at least five years from his date of discharge from active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from maintaining gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran meets schedular requirements for a TDIU as of June 29, 2016 due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus resulting in his inability to obtain and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient opinions in previous evaluations. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to April 5, 2011 due to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus resulting in unemployability.

The Veteran's tinnitus, a condition he reported since service, is found to have begun during his active duty and continues to this day. The Board granted the claim for service connection.