Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 7, 2017. His eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of this date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his lay statements from his hearing and VA treatment reports. The issues of diabetes, hypertension, and bladder spasms are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's spouse, the caregiver, is found to be unable to complete caregiver training within 90 days of applying for PCAFC benefits. The claim is therefore remanded due to a lack of completion of required caregiver training.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 and TDIU are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide an adequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no legal basis to assign an earlier date, with the earliest possible effective date being January 21, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (major depressive disorder, left hip bursitis, and tinnitus) have rendered him unemployable due to their severity. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 80% for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain private medical records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination, which is necessary to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 22, 2020 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran had some capacity for substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to the failure of the RO to obtain missing Air Force Reserve records and provide consideration for all lay statements made by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete evaluations, including a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.