Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, left knee condition, and right knee condition are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral recurrent tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, multiple sclerosis (MS), and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history during the appeal period, despite meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 6, 2017 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining employment.

The claim for service connection for residuals of rocket fragment to the left side of his head has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The effective date is not earlier than August 13, 2012.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of August 13, 2012. An increased rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.,Coronary artery disease (CAD) due to herbicide exposure has been granted. Service connection for hypertension (HTN) and other conditions have not yet been resolved.,Service connection for chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral elbow arthritis remains pending.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide any VA or non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his military service and has persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, right inguinal hernia residuals, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since May 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and a bilateral foot disorder, including flat feet. The Veteran's tinnitus is being considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, while the issue of a bilateral foot disorder remains under review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service exposure to loud noise from helicopters and jet engines.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as lower back condition), right foot drop, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for the lower back condition was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are granted. Claims for sleep apnea, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, avascular necrosis, gastrointestinal disability, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis as the Veteran's MOS was artillery crewman, which exposed him to noise. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection for hearing loss is being remanded because of newly associated records from the Veteran's 1980 service showing a diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal for both claims of service connection and disability rating as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals seeking higher ratings for bilateral shin splints, eczema of the right hand, hemorrhoids, and PFB were withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or their relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and knee disorders.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss or knee disorders as they were determined to be unrelated to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.