Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was insufficient competent and credible evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current tinnitus had onset within one year from his discharge.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred during service. The hearing loss disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were initially denied due to his service-connected disabilities not resulting in an employment handicap. However, since the initial decision, he has been granted additional service connection for several conditions and there is evidence suggesting he may have an employment handicap now. The Board finds a remand necessary to conduct a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) to determine if he currently suffers from an employment handicap.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it lacks an adequate opinion regarding the relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach cramps, and migraine headaches have been denied.,The Veteran was not found to have a current disability related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD with additional conditions like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic lumbosacral strain, left elbow epicondylitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 19, 2015. The Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU based on his MDD with PTSD alone, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's tinnitus was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board found that the symptoms began within one year of separation from service, meeting the presumptive criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be service-connected.,The Veteran's allergies, skin disorder (dermatitis and seborrheic keratosis), hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, digestive disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information about his employment history and the need for updated Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran withdrew his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions provided by a VA audiologist. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 16, 2020.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a right knee disability and hearing loss effective December 2, 1993. The effective date for these awards is set at the earliest possible date based on the receipt of his application.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus and PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol/cocaine use disorder was granted effective September 30, 2015. The claims were not filed prior to this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in active duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, tinnitus, and disequilibrium, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 25, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 30, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.