Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has persisted since, warranting the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss on an aggravation basis and for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus/ringing in the ears is service-connected and an effective date prior to May 31, 2017, for this condition has been granted.,Issues regarding right knee meniscus strain s/p arthroscopic surgery have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.,Issues regarding surgical scar right knee s/p arthroscopic surgery have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues at a hearing before the Board.,Service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea/loud snoring, migraines, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with amnesia, memory loss, and forgetfulness has also been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and his March 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely NOD for the issues on appeal. The Veteran must file a VA Form 9 substantive appeal to perfect his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted as they are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, degenerative arthritis of the feet, hypertension, high cholesterol, tinnitus, and urinary problems have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and schizophrenia related to his low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and continued through present day, granting service connection for this condition. The claims for left ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service head injuries and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, and tremors).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, migraine headaches, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied as there is no current disability or evidence of a link to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities were denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 10% for hypertension was also denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to June 23, 2015 did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, due to his unemployability and chronic back pain, the Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation Service is warranted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted. However, as the remaining service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for housebound status, the claim of entitlement to SMC based on housebound status is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection or rating decisions were made.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective May 1, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability and rating higher than 40 percent for nerve impairment associated with right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lower back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability. The claims are being returned for further development.