Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and inguinal hernia render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 5, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the need for an examination to assess his functional limitations caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is unclear whether the Veteran has submitted a completed VA Form 21-8940 and/or VA Form 21-4192. The Veteran's TDIU application status needs to be clarified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus had its onset during his active duty service and is related to noise exposure in service, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling from March 1, 2012. The Board granted a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder and dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The initial disability rating for the left knee patellofemoral syndrome remains at 10 percent, with no change.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for occasional ringing of the ears (also claimed as tinnitus) and tonsillitis, strep throat, and sinus problems have been dismissed due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran.

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

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.,The VA examiner concluded that the current disabilities of degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease are less likely than not caused by an in-service injury during training.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from finding and maintaining gainful employment commensurate with his previous training and experience.

The Board has decided that service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the case of bilateral hearing loss must be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of skin cancer are granted service connection. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed thyroid disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for reopening the previous denial of service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it was aggravated by service or preexisted service. The tinnitus claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the left ear hearing loss claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), sarcoidosis, squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the head and neck), residuals of a tonsillectomy, scar status post thoracotomy, right ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches are causally related to service, including his time at Camp Lejeune.