Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her educational and occupational background prior to April 16, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current tinnitus is considered a direct result of his military service, while the right ear hearing loss did not manifest during service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from October 16, 2009, through April 5, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and denied his application for VA survivor's pension due to insufficient evidence showing a causal link between his service-connected conditions and his death, as well as his income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds the VA medical opinion inadequate and remands for an addendum to address the nature and etiology of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with audiometric test results conversion, as well as recent audiogram results not being available in the VA records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a left leg disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support her claims. The appeals are granted in part.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, have been continuous since service separation, and sustained acoustic trauma during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and increased rating for various conditions, as well as the issue of whether the appellant's bad conduct discharge is a bar to VA benefits. The character of discharge issue must be addressed first.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of all diagnoses during the appeal period.,Service connection for bilateral knee disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering in-service stressors and current symptoms.,Service connection for bilateral hip disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering in-service stressors and current symptoms.,Service connection for back disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which grants SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. As a result, there is no question left to decide regarding entitlement to SMC by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2006.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence showed he is currently employed and earning a wage above the poverty threshold, despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from August 13, 2014 through September 25, 2016 rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but not for bilateral hearing loss or asbestosis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish in-service incurrence or a nexus to service for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating constant use of a walker. The Board has granted financial assistance for specially adapted housing but denied the special home adaptation grant as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no persuasive medical evidence or credible lay evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.