Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Appellant's current right ear hearing loss may be related to his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), but an addendum opinion is needed to determine this. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to inadequate opinions in the original VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, extracted teeth, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy for any of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left shoulder strains, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU from July 27, 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma exposure during service, and thus service connection is granted. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no competent and credible evidence of a current diagnosis or symptoms.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his military noise exposure. However, the Board also found that the Veteran did not have chronic tinnitus in service or within one year after separation from service, and there was no continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is more likely related to civilian noise exposure rather than military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, with the Board finding that the evidence in equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations from April and May 2019. The Court held that these examinations did not fully consider the Veteran's prior medical history, particularly his conceded in-service stressor of a mountain bike accident.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness/giddiness are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet, low back disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for a right hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had onset in active service or were otherwise causally connected.,There is no presumptive service connection available as the Veteran served fewer than 90 days.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left palm scar, hypertension, and right wrist ulnar styloid unfused apophysis. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not granted service connection due to lack of evidence showing permanent injury from service. Service connection for PTSD was granted, but the initial rating remains at 50 percent.,Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation claim is remanded as per the September 2019 Board remand.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to September 14, 2015. The Veteran's service records show in-service exposure to noise but no definitive link between current conditions and service is established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work, as well as his need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The Veteran will be required to provide updated employment history and undergo VA examinations to determine these matters.

The Veteran's left knee scar is granted a 10% rating, but no higher. The initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. An effective date prior to August 11, 2015 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Multiple issues remain unresolved and are being remanded by the Board.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on aid and attendance from January 30, 2019 onward. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound benefits from July 12, 2011 to January 29, 2019 is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for SMC T (based on a higher level of SMC under subsection (t)) has been reasonably raised by the record. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance from July 12, 2011 to January 29, 2019 is remanded.,The earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the upper extremities prior to February 9, 2021 remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since November 5, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU for this period of time but remanded the issue prior to November 5, 2019 due to lack of development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, special monthly compensation based on housebound status, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of tinnitus and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for SMC or TDIU.