Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted as of March 14, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examiner's opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, and high blood pressure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a compensable disability evaluation for his service-connected surgical scar. The effective dates for TDIU and the award of 60% disability rating for coronary artery disease have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and sinusitis due to new examinations being necessary.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for acid reflux, tinnitus, and hearing loss. The claims for tendonitis of the right foot and left foot remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to active duty. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a dental examination to determine if the Veteran's loss of two front teeth is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA standards. The most probative opinions were against a relationship between these disabilities and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, diabetes mellitus type II, and depression.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the appellant's service-connected conditions alone do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded all issues for additional development. The malaria and tinea versicolor ratings are also remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, but the Board is unable to determine whether this is due to his service-connected conditions or other factors. The case is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's death was not recognized for DIC and death pension benefits due to the marriage occurring too late. The appellant is being remanded to clarify whether she wishes to proceed as a substitute party or solely for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision was based on the Veteran's testimony of in-service noise exposure and her current symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of tinnitus in service or at any time since service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Board finds that the Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected Raynaud's phenomenon with scleroderma/CREST syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities prior to June 6, 2019.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is granted, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.