Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another individual, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is denied and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion based on another Veteran's records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The appeal for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims.,The Veteran's headaches are remanded for an addendum opinion to address whether they are caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another individual, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service, with the Board finding that he experienced continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between these conditions and his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. Other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including their impact on employment.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for unspecified anxiety disorder prior to January 14, 2022 was denied as the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.,The rating for unspecified anxiety disorder since January 14, 2022 was also denied due to lack of evidence showing moderate incomplete paralysis or other symptomatology that would warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. However, the claims for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate investigation of the claimed stressor and need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 17, 2017 for service connection of high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The effective dates assigned are based on the date of receipt of the intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and North Port Emergency Care Center on October 14, 2016 is granted. The treatment was provided in a hospital emergency department due to severe lower extremity pain and swelling related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's preexisting hearing loss is alleged not to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as he is already assigned the maximum schedular rating available. The cases for service connection for painful knees, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and phlebitis are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.