Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected ulcer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and/or PTSD) due to outstanding private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus, dermatitis of the face, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted service connection. Service connection for a left ankle condition has not been established. The initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not due to his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient response in the December 2019 addendum opinion. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and speech impediment have been granted. Hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be directly related to exposure to loud noise during service. The pre-existing speech impediment is not considered aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, chronic anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for low back disability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 7, 2021 and dismissed the appeal from that date forward due to a concurrent grant of SMC based on housebound criteria. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to inconsistencies in the medical records regarding their onset.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2011 was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the appellant's symptoms began during his active service and have continued since then.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, eye disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition has prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, warranting a TDIU. Additionally, he is entitled to SMC based on housebound status due to his additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability to include degenerative arthritis due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the claim. The appeals for service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied due to his failure to attend a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as there is insufficient information regarding his employment history and earnings.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been found to be related to his military service, and thus granted.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or post-service, and is denied.

The Veteran's combined schedular rating has been total since September 25, 2014. The Board denied the claim of TDIU prior to October 12, 2020, as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, acne (including scarring), and tinnitus due to new evidence indicating worsening of symptoms since the last examination. The effective dates for service connection are also being remanded as VA treatment records may be missing.