Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that his tinnitus does not warrant a higher rating as it has not produced exceptional or unusual effects not contemplated by the schedular criteria.

The Veteran is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 10, 2011. The issue of special monthly pension (SMP) benefits is dismissed as moot due to the greater benefit provided by TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus, knee conditions, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 16, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire appeal period.

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 secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and acne conglobata, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during military service.,Service connection was also granted for the aggravation of pre-existing acne conglobata by military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for asthma has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has remanded several other issues related to various disorders, including headaches, bilateral eye disorder, chronic sinusitis, skin disorder, neck disorder, upper back muscular disorder, left elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right hand disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and left foot disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee patellar chondromalacia, and right knee patellar chondromalacia have also been remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have started during active duty. Service connection for ulcers was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection for lumbar herniated disc and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date for service connection of tinnitus is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete evidence and inconsistencies in the Veteran's responses during examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from June 3, 2008, to January 21, 2009.

The Veteran's L4-5 disc bulge with facet arthrosis and neuroforaminal stenosis and status post L2-4 foraminotomy is related to service.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, his tinnitus began during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is etiologically related to his military noise exposure. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, and loss of smell are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since August 8, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from June 5, 2017, to February 21, 2018. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and issues related to scheduling a VA examination.