Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as his combination of disabilities prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back condition due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it was incurred during his military service due to exposure to loud noises and excessive vibration, including from jet noise. The decision resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for hypertension. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable from February 22, 2020, to the present. The Board finds that his educational success and goal-oriented attitude demonstrate his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented them from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for a TDIU are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation beginning January 3, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and disabilities of the knees and low back have prevented him from participating in a substantially gainful occupation since July 19, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a pre-existing condition aggravated by such exposure. The Board also found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stiff neck disorder, bilateral foot disorder with swelling and pain, tinea pedis, hypertension, heart disorder (enlarged heart and coronary artery disease), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The ear disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, as the April 2010 VA examiner did not adequately address this issue.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were not properly docketed under the modernized appeal system (AMA) due to a form error. The Board has determined that these appeals should be remanded to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in several areas, including obtaining a supplemental statement of the case for one issue and requesting authorization to obtain medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are also remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's current diagnoses and evidence showing a link to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.