Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis) and tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (vertigo) as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and for a compensable disability rating prior to February 6, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. The remand requires the provision of adequate VA opinions on whether the Veteran's vertigo is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The decision resolves the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure history and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service connection issues. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not shown as having been incurred during or within one year after her military service, nor is there evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hand tendonitis, and left hand tendonitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disorder and tinnitus (to include as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and/or a headache disorder), and found that these claims are not granted due to lack of evidence showing causation or etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 9, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence supported a finding that the tinnitus is related to active service, including in-service noise exposure. Service connection for sarcoidosis is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran is not permanently bedridden, in need of regular aid and attendance, or so helpless as to be in need of such assistance.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's prostate condition is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, but the VA examiner found no direct link between his prostate condition and erectile dysfunction.,The Board has remanded the claims for a prostate disability (presumptive) and erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate disability), as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU as his combined service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) amount to 60 percent. The Board also concludes that he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hepatitis C, tinnitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right foot disability, and back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and that the current medical literature does not support a late onset of tinnitus related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected back, hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unemployable as his education and experience qualify him for a wide variety of positions that would produce income above the poverty threshold.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

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