Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The initial compensable rating claim for hypertension is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for PTSD with insomnia is granted based on credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, although the VA psychologist did not diagnose PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and tonsil cancer has been granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 1, 2013 until December 1, 2015 due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from December 1, 2012 to July 11, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to December 1, 2012 is denied.

The Veteran's tension headaches, heart disabilities, left knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinus disability are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability (secondary to left knee), and right thumb disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied in September 2015. He filed a supplemental claim in February 2020, which resulted in the grant of service connection with an effective date of February 28, 2020. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether any service-connected disability contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has continued to the present, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 15, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions began during service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience, leading to a TDIU effective August 31, 2018.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (including dementia and PTSD), diabetes, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and liver disability claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to July 23, 2021, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus as this claim is no longer in appellate status due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of valid testing results.