Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has expanded the psychiatric claim to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities, and it is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these claims. Gout, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic liver disease (including hepatitis C), and back disability are also remanded due to lack of sufficient medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active duty and in-service symptoms warrant granting of this claim.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back, cervical spine, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), bilateral pes planus, and a cervical spine disorders. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, headaches, blurry vision, tinnitus, and low back disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional evidence or medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD, low back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded due to potential changes in the Veteran's condition since his last examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating and were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with sacroiliac injury, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus first manifested in service and has continued since then. The Board resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for left hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during active duty.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been present since service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to July 12, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU from July 12, 2016 is dismissed as moot because the Veteran received a 100% disability rating for prostate cancer and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and duty to assist errors, specifically regarding the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus caused by significant air pressure changes during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 2, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are currently rated based on their severity. The PTSD claim is being remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran’s hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code. His erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The PTSD claim requires additional evidence to determine if it warrants an increased rating.,Service connection for hepatitis, agoraphobia, and sleep disturbance was denied in previous decisions that were not appealed. Service connection for hearing loss, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, low back disability, kidney disease, ear disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being reopened.,The Veteran's spouse’s need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active or reserve service.