Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for SMC at other than the housebound rate was denied as he did not meet the criteria for this benefit during the specified period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right-hand knuckle injury, bilateral hearing loss, and head injury. The claim for tinnitus was granted as it is considered to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and chronic cough to obtain additional medical records and provide examinations.,An effective date prior to January 16, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus have been remanded due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports. The VA will schedule new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the RO's failure to substantially comply with previous Board remand instructions and legal inaccuracies in their subsequent rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment based on his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.,Service connection for alcohol abuse secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the most persuasive evidence demonstrates a link between the Veteran's alcohol dependence and his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted, as the evidence shows continuity of symptomatology and a pre-existing condition noted during service. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service onset and continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The left shoulder claim has been reopened, but the other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied her claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to new and material evidence, but the appeals are still pending as some issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, skin condition of the feet (claimed as athlete's foot), ingrown toenail of the right foot, back condition, and right knee condition. The decision found no current disability for hearing loss or tinnitus that would meet VA compensation criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's left ear otitis media and externa, as well as outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the withholding of VA compensation benefits to recoup disability severance pay in the amount of $15,000 was proper and this appeal must be denied.

The appeal of the July 2021 rating decision, which proposed to award service connection for multiple disabilities according to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence that these conditions were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective October 4, 2006. He seeks a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including revising a June 1970 rating decision on CUE, determining an earlier effective date for hypertension, addressing GSW residuals and TDIU, and evaluating nerve damage of the right arm. The appeals are pending due to procedural and evidentiary issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in at least approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to service exposure to hazardous noise. The appeal was granted.