Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran withdrew from appeal the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for migraine headaches and tinnitus, as well as an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to September 25, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 1, 2017 was denied as he had been employed and the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim for DEA benefits prior to November 1, 2017 was also denied due to lack of employment history provided by the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, including as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, anxiety disorder, type II diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral bunions and diabetes mellitus, effective January 6, 2012. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for bilateral bunions is moot as a result. Service connection for sleep disturbances and tinnitus is denied.

Service connection for hypertension and low back disability has been reopened, with hypertension being granted and low back disability remaining denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,His erectile dysfunction claim remains pending and will be remanded for further examination and opinion.,Bilateral hearing loss is also pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted beginning November 12, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to April 2, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a diagnosis of tinnitus and her lay statements are credible, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. However, the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires additional examination and opinion as the March 2018 VA examiner's opinion was inadequate.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and groin pain due to insufficient medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service are also considered.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as she is already in receipt of a combined 100% rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address potential secondary service connection claims related to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran's assertion that his tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service was not considered competent evidence.

The Board has found duty to assist errors and remanded the cases for further development.

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

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, both of which have been granted. Service connection for right ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after service discharge, and there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causation.