Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus and sinusitis are granted service connection due to exposure during the Persian Gulf War. Hearing loss is remanded for further examination, as is a respiratory disability with cough, to include shortness of breath due to a cardiac disability.

The Veteran's use of a wheelchair and forearm crutches for service-connected disabilities is granted as a clothing allowance for 2018. The use of a urine bag does not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding a causal link to active-duty service. Service connection was denied for skin growth disability due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied as no earlier effective date is permissible by law.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 20, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Veteran's combined service-connected rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) has been referred to the Director, VA Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine strain and other service connection issues due to new evidence received since the last decision. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left shoulder status post cyst excision scar, as well as his claim for a rating increase for sinusitis.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being related to military noise exposure. Service connection was also denied for the left shoulder scar because there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal. The Board denied entitlement to a compensation based on total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's vertigo is caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a middle ear condition of the right ear, and tinnitus due to technical difficulties with previous hearings and issues obtaining necessary medical opinions/examinations.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the issue of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and review.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher initial rating for right hand thumb strain, service connection for right and left leg shin splints, and service connection for a skin disorder. The appeals for reopening service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted. Service connection was denied for headache disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during active duty.,Service connection for a disability manifested by photosensitivity in the eyes, left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, and left ear swelling are denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with these conditions at any time related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. His bilateral hearing loss claim requires further examination due to inadequate rationale provided by the previous examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to noise exposure during his active military service.