Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted an effective date of February 27, 1986 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss. The decision is based on a prior informal claim filed by the Veteran in February 1986.

The Board has decided that a remand is required to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed tinnitus.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for left shoulder disability. The Board denied these claims, finding that neither the August 2016 nor January 2017 Intent to File could serve as the proper effective date.,The Board also remanded two issues: right shoulder strain and cervical spine disability, due to a lack of evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, OSA (to include as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis), tinnitus, and GERD have been granted.,Service connection for OSA is established based on the Veteran's credible report of its onset during active service and recurrence since.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and testimony. The VA will obtain these records and schedule examinations for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show actual external or internal deformity of the penis.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptoms since service, but the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of in-service onset and no established link to noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss as they have already been granted in a previous decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus due to potential relevance with the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during his military service. The nasal disorder, sinusitis, and gastro-intestinal condition are remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for a perforated eardrum is also remanded. Service connection for pes planus (flat feet) remains denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's back disability was reduced from a 40 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, which the Board found improper and restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has also determined that the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease (L4/5 and L5/S1) with lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, asthma, DJD of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and migraines) render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of medical evidence and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left hip condition due to failure of the Veteran to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, require the regular aid and attendance of another person due to their severity. The Board finds that SMC based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate opinion and missing records.

The Veteran's TDIU and special monthly compensation based on housebound status are granted from September 22, 2017 to February 28, 2018. Prior to this date, the criteria for these benefits were not met.