Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are granted as the evidence now shows a link to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his employment, which precludes him from meeting the criteria for this benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to active service.,For skeletal arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bowel disability, the Board also denied service connection as there was no persuasive evidence of their onset in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including schizophrenia. The case is remanded for further development and examination to determine if any of these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 13, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Service connection for chronic upper respiratory infections is remanded. Service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claim for a compensable initial disability rating for sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence of current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. However, the appeal is dismissed as these claims have been fully resolved.

Your claim for a higher disability rating for left shoulder surgical scar has been granted with a 30% rating effective April 22, 2015. Your other claims have been dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and his TDIU claim prior to May 16, 2019, was denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that allowed him to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and rating as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further examination and consideration of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining additional private treatment records and for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection based on a finding of continuous symptoms since service. The right shoulder, left ankle, and knee disorders were denied as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including vertigo, dizziness, back pain, hearing loss, PTSD, and MDD, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and a back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional private treatment records from Dr. J.M. of the Southern Clinic and Dr. D.E. of the Southeast Pain Management Center.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, which satisfies the requirement for a single disability rated as 100 percent. However, his other service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60 percent or more, thus denying entitlement to SMC based on housebound status.