Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis due to Gulf War burn pit exposure. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right hip, left hip, and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's T-12 burst fracture and bilateral lower extremity sciatica are denied as they occurred during a period of dishonorable service.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus resulted in a combined rating of 60 percent from April 13, 2014 to June 3, 2021. The Board granted TDIU for this period due to the functional impairment associated with his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during his military service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, and headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service injuries.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, as the claim was reopened with the submission of new and material evidence. Tinnitus has also been granted service connection.,The Board found that the appellant's tinnitus began during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and has been continuous since then.

The Veteran's combined 100 percent schedular rating means that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot, as his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment was not marginal and he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since June 1, 2005. Therefore, TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted from this date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from July 21, 2022.,The Veteran is granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 14, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC). The Veteran must first file an SOC before appealing these issues further.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PFB and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as new and material evidence had been received, supporting the claim that his tinnitus began in service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 18, 2015 is remanded due to the need for further development and examination. The AOJ must verify the date of last full-time employment and schedule a VA examination to assess functional impairment from service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in the August 2004 rating decision, and no new and material evidence has been received since then.,The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened due to the submission of a September 2017 VA examination report showing a diagnosis of bilateral knee strain. The Veteran's testimony at the March 2022 Board hearing supports this finding.,Service connection for hypertension, chest pain, and heart condition has not been established as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service continuity of symptoms. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 50 percent but without an effective date prior to July 18, 2017.,Service connection for metatarsalgia status post fracture in both feet and right leg radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to service or the Veteran's current symptoms. Service connection for left shoulder condition, sinus condition, sleep apnea, digestive condition (including GERD), and back condition has also not been established.,The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions, metatarsalgia status post fracture in both feet, and PTSD. The Veteran's testimony supported these findings.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The rating for diabetes mellitus, type II remains at 20 percent.,A remand is ordered to determine the current severity of the Veteran's flat foot condition.