Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right elbow epicondylitis, left elbow epicondylitis, and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his disabilities. The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as the absence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records. The tinnitus claim is granted with an effective date of December 2, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, left radical orchiectomy for seminoma left testicle, and tinnitus due to a lack of information from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective August 8, 2001.,Both awards are based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and anxiety and major depressive disorder are found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and hearing loss.

The appeal for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has already been granted. The appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, and PTSD have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer residuals is set at January 3, 2018. A higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for prostate cancer residuals has been denied. The September 2015 rating decision assigning an initial 30 percent disability rating for PTSD was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations and his homelessness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and IBS, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including determining if he was exposed to herbicide agents during his military service and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU from March 2, 2016 is based on service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The Board found that the additional service-connected disabilities (right ankle, left ankle, right knee strain, tinnitus, and left lower extremity radiculopathy) are separate and distinct from the lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU, were granted with an effective date of April 16, 2011. The VA also awarded Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective from the same date.