Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, a current disability of tinnitus, and continuity of symptomatology since service.

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

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agents exposure, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case is also remanded for a medical opinion on whether any current erectile dysfunction is related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for updated assessments of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision, specifically regarding the definition of a 'significant threshold shift' and the basis for attributing in-service threshold shifts.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have led to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, but the percentage requirements for a TDIU on a schedular basis are not met. The Board has referred the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis to VA's Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, headaches, right upper extremity radiculopathy, back disability, left knee disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced ringing in his ears during service and has credible testimony supporting this. Service connection is granted as it meets all elements: a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, and causal relationship between the present disability and the disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus), and bilateral eye disorder (to include secondary to type II diabetes mellitus). The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. The evidence is in approximate balance on whether these conditions are due to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for higher ratings for migraines and pes planus. His claim for service connection for tinnitus, right AC separation, PTSD, and gastrointestinal disorder is granted with a 70% rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted, but the service connection for Eustachian tube dysfunction is remanded due to a lack of examination addressing noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a VA-defined hearing disability.

For the appeal period prior to April 8, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,For the appeal period from December 17, 2020, the Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of chronic fatigue disorder and respiratory disorder are remanded due to insufficient development.