Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 7, 1998 for the establishment of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cervical spine disability appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for tinnitus and GERD are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether sleep apnea is related to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. However, the Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Issues regarding back, neck, bilateral hearing loss, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, total disability rating based on individual unemployability are still pending and need further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it did not meet the criteria as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic tinnitus within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from October 13, 2009 to March 6, 2015. The rating for the back disability remains at 40 percent during the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a relationship between the Veteran’s claimed condition and his active duty service or any event, injury, or disease during service. Service connection for TDIU prior to July 31, 2018, was also denied as the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the threshold percentage requirements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a disability of the right eye (vision), and left foot numbness as they are all related to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's combined disability rating prior to February 14, 2020 was only 60%, which did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU is denied because the earliest date at which it can be said he was unemployable solely due to service-connected disabilities is August 9, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to address potential noise exposure during service and to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.