Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea with bronchial asthma and unspecified depressive disorder, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's disability ratings do not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU prior to November 30, 2017. The case was remanded in April of 2019 and is now being remanded again due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran should be granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis as of November 30, 2017.

The claims for left wrist ganglion cyst and skin condition (claimed as acne) have been denied because the evidence does not establish a connection to service.,Tinnitus was granted, with no indication of noise exposure during service. The appellant's testimony regarding tinnitus is considered less credible due to its remote onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, tinnitus, and leukemia/lymphoma disorder due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 16, 2010 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board found that referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection and increased ratings.,An effective date earlier than June 2, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 1, 2011 to November 14, 2011. The claim of entitlement to TDIU for the period from November 15, 2011 to December 31, 2012 is moot due to the Veteran's 100% schedular rating and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The claim of TDIU prior to September 1, 2011 was denied.

The Veteran's post-total knee replacement right knee disability is granted a 60 percent rating effective August 3, 2012. The claim for an increase in the 30 percent rating prior to that date was denied.,The Veteran’s hypertension is rated at 10 percent and no higher. An extraschedular TDIU rating prior to August 3, 2012 is remanded.,Bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent and a TDIU rating from the effective date of August 3, 2012 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of February 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as they are related to his active duty service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA records, including those from Loma Linda VAHCS, and schedule an examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and the etiology of his claimed tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal of the claim for service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PFB, left foot disability, hypertension, headache disability, and right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) is granted, as he meets the criteria with a combined rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board dismissed all claims of service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for pansinusitis have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 5, 2018 due to his service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.