Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a right foot disability. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted. The claim for service connection for a cardiac disability remains pending as the Veteran failed to appear for a VA examination.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ankle disability, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD, opioid use disorder (in remission), and stimulant use disorder have been granted service connection.,His obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. However, the issue of service connection for headaches is still pending due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder and left knee conditions. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective October 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found that no earlier effective dates could be granted.,Issues related to asthma, COPD, heart condition, hemorrhoids, peripheral neuropathy, wrist condition, thumb fracture, lower extremity radiculopathy, upper extremity radiculopathy, forearm/elbow condition, and other conditions were also remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss disability and bilateral tinnitus due to potential errors in their adjudication. The case is being sent back for additional development, including addendum medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of authorization for private treatment records from Dr. F., and a need for a new VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted on a direct basis. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

Tinnitus and sinus disability, to include allergies, spine disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right leg disability (shin splints), and left leg disability (shin splints) have been granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss has not been established as a disability for VA purposes.,The remaining issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's motion to vacate a 1979 Board decision regarding defective hearing and tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The claim for tinnitus is granted as it began during service and continues today, with no intercurrent cause. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also granted as there is a current disability (bilateral hearing loss) that is related to in-service noise exposure, even though the Veteran's post-service occupation was more significant in terms of noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 18, 2015 and September 15, 2017 have been dismissed.,An effective date of September 15, 2017 has been assigned for the award of service connection for lung cancer.,A compensable disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to September 22, 2017 has been granted.,Beginning September 22, 2017, a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD has not been met.,New and material evidence having been submitted, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a liver disorder is reopened.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder) has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for stomach ulcers have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for asthma and tinnitus due to missing records from the Veteran's Air Force Reserve service, inadequate opinion in the original decision, and need for further development.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for tinnitus was improper and has restored it.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability (patellar tendonitis).,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain with cervical spine degenerative disc disease is also being remanded.