Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, with the former being granted. The claim for sleep apnea remains closed as no new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection is denied for a bilateral foot condition (heel spurs and plantar fasciitis), as there is insufficient evidence to establish that the condition had its onset in service or is causally related to any incident of service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disability, a back disability, and bilateral leg numbness.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions began during or are causally related to active service.

The appeal seeking a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, with the Veteran's claim being resolved in his favor due to the evidence being in relative equipoise.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for SMC benefits at the housebound rate, but his need for A&A assistance is unclear and requires further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely related to his active duty service. However, it denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service. The decision also reopened a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while the claim for TBI remains pending and remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he has been unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities for the entire period on appeal.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, while service connection for hearing loss, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder; fibromyalgia; tinnitus; bilateral hearing loss; and eczema. The right knee and left knee disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was properly calculated using the Combined Ratings Table, resulting in a 70 percent rating. The left shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy grant did not change the overall 70 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms during or within one year after service. The Veteran's assertions about noise exposure were not credible given his denial of these conditions in post-service medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint sprain has been dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the condition did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence of noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's headache disorder, including as secondary to PTSD, is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disorders are remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a lack of medical evidence addressing the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his headaches, sinus condition, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's DM is currently rated at 20 percent, but a separate rating for urinary frequency associated with DM is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence provided in support of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a combined rating of 100 percent prior to November 13, 2017. However, the Board finds that his single disability rated at 100 percent does not render him unemployable due to these conditions alone.