Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim is denied, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left inguinal hernia with hernia repair, low back strain, and right shoulder injury as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,For TDIU, the Veteran has a combined evaluation of 40 percent with two service-connected conditions. The Board found that his disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asbestos exposure, hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of sufficient information in the record to make informed decisions on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and knee conditions, did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 22, 2018.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, with the benefit of doubt given to the Veteran's claim.,Hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. Service connection for cerebral infarction (claimed as stroke) is also granted based on hypertension.,The service-connected right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied, with no current diagnosis found in the medical records.,Service connection for coronary artery disease remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service due to noise exposure. However, there is insufficient evidence of tinnitus during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus, type 2, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 19, 2017. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The claim for hepatitis C remains denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to blood containing hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and eye disorders. The appeal is being returned to the RO to attempt to obtain records from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 10 percent disabling for service-connected tinnitus and allergic rhinitis. As his combined disability does not meet the minimum 30 percent threshold, he cannot be awarded additional dependency compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of her tinnitus were deemed inconsistent with other evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service are not addressed in the VA opinions.

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 related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, effective June 24, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in blindness or permanent total disability due to anatomical loss of use of both hands, full thickness burns, or inhalation injuries.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection effective April 30, 2021.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran has been assigned a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to procedural defects in the submission of appeal forms.