Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted effective dates of June 27, 2013 for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), erectile dysfunction (ED), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,These conditions were manifested as of June 27, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and the appeal is granted.,Service connection for recurrent tinnitus is granted. The Veteran reported onset during active-duty service in 1975.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and panic disorder with alcohol dependence, is granted service connection. The claim for tinnitus has also been granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted as presumptively related to exposure to particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and fibromyalgia are remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from May 7, 2012 to February 25, 2013 and on and after July 22, 2020. The case is being referred to the Director of the Compensation Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied due to lack of a current disability. The VA examiner found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, nor did the private audiogram support these findings.,For sleep apnea, the Board has determined that a remand is necessary as there are insufficient records to make a decision on the claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. Service connection was granted for sinusitis but denied for TBI residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder was reopened and granted. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, right wrist, arthritis of the entire body, tinnitus, and hypertension were all denied.,A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss condition is related to her military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen service connection for tinnitus and a disability manifested by poor circulation in the legs, as the Veteran had died during the appeal process.

Effective dates of May 6, 2015 are granted for the awards of service connection for tinnitus, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with labral tear including SLAP, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions were caused by his active-duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and she is assigned a separate initial disability rating of 10 percent for her painful right upper chest scar. Her bilateral hearing loss claim is denied, and her migraine headaches are granted with an initial disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 7, 2002 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, a lumbar spine condition, hypertension, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on evidence that suggests VA received the Veteran's claim in September or October 2002, despite no record of it being submitted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, osteoarthritis of both lower legs, testicular cancer, skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all remanded. The Board acknowledges the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty service but finds insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, finding that the VA Forms signed by the Veteran on June 19, 2015 were not received by VA prior to June 20, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from February 5, 2018 to April 19, 2021.,From April 20, 2021 onwards, the issue of TDIU is moot as his combined disability rating is now at 100%.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases of headaches, a skin disorder, and PTSD are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss, have precluded him from engaging in gainful employment prior to May 4, 2021.