Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his combined rating is less than total and he can still perform substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to noise exposure in service. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, a condition capable of lay observation, was incurred during service due to in-service noise exposure. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the tinnitus began during service and has persisted since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is a 100% rating for his service-connected back disability from May 7, 2007 to April 5, 2019. He also receives TDIU and aid and attendance special monthly compensation during this period.

The Board has not granted service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, right arm disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's claim for a lumbosacral spine disability is remanded to obtain an examination and determine the nature and etiology of this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss may be related to in-service noise exposure. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are directly related to service.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 19, 2015 and onwards due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating for these conditions is 80%.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a back disorder, denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right hip disorder, and right leg disorder. The Veteran did not have current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her active duty service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease and an increased rating for tinnitus. The TDIU appeal was dismissed prior to January 1, 2017, but granted since that date.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the condition is related to noise exposure during active duty in the California Army National Guard.