Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for respiratory disability, tinnitus, nerve damage of the feet, and hyperkeratoses of the feet have been granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal, leaving only the issue of entitlement to TDIU in appellate status. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for residuals of injury to the left index finger is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from March 7, 2015 to October 10, 2017. From July 6, 2022, the rating is denied.,The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to October 10, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disorders (right and left), and bilateral ankle disorders (left and right). The conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot condition, and right foot condition due to potential service connection based on in-service noise exposure. Additional evidence is needed from both VA and private sources.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and post traumatic degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, as well as service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The right hip disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence regarding noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus, as it is already at its maximum schedular rating. For his bilateral hearing loss claim, the Board determined there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection due to lack of current diagnosis and valid audiometric test results.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is a present disability that has manifested since separation from service, and there is a causal relationship between the current disability and events in service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The maximum schedular rating for recurrent tinnitus (tinnitus) is 10 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and reviewing the coroner's report. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and plantar fasciitis. Service connection was granted for tinnitus due to the Veteran's competent lay statements regarding his in-service noise exposure and current symptoms. However, service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss or plantar fasciitis as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have prevented him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the denial of the Veteran's claim to reopen his tinnitus service connection was a duty-to-assist error due to the pending audiometric examination, and thus the case is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for vertigo, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in disability during the one year prior to his claim.

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