Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further review by a VA clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use assistive devices and maintain independent mobility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 19, 2021.

Service connection for hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for tinnitus is readjudicated as new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, bilateral hearing loss condition, and tinnitus should be remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical records and a need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the residuals of a left index finger fracture is denied.,Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatica in either lower extremity, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and tinnitus have been denied.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran's mild exostoses of first metatarsal right foot or left foot.

The Board has denied an increased rating for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for asthma and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The claims of service connection for vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability, and bilateral leg disability are not reopened. The claim of service connection for sleep disorder (OSA and/or insomnia) is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship with service. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded. The claim of service connection for hypotension is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 27, 2021. From that date, his combined disability rating was 100 percent due to the combination of all his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 12, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate as he does not have anatomical loss of both feet, one hand and one foot, or blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity. Additionally, his condition is not so severe that it requires assistance from another person to attend to daily activities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial opinion regarding his employability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and vertigo are not service-connected as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury, and the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service.,The Veteran's bilateral leg disability (claimed as shin splints) is also not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his vertigo.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current nature and etiology of his service-connected condition, including instability issues.,Bilateral knee conditions are also being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if they are related to the service-connected right ankle disability or if they were incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU effective September 30, 2021.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran had noise exposure during service, which likely caused his current conditions.

The Veteran's application for S-DVI was denied because he had a history of stroke, which is not considered 'good health' under VA standards. The Board has ordered remand to comply with the requirements set forth in the Veterans Benefits Manual (M29-1) and ensure proper notification.