Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral cataracts has been withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU effective from December 10, 2014 to July 18, 2022.,Effective from July 18, 2022, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of tinnitus and earlier effective dates for both tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 4, 2018 for tinnitus was denied. The earliest possible effective date is January 4, 2018.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for a prostate condition and bilateral hearing loss were granted. His PFB claim remains remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they were remanded by the Board.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records from before December 21, 2009. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that her current condition is related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to insufficient discussion in the June 2021 decision regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. Additional development is needed including obtaining deck logs from ships the Veteran served on, verifying herbicide exposure, and requesting VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his time in service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no persuasive evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TMJ disability, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a current disability. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as there is continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded and requires additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Jackson, Mississippi, and any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus was noted within a year of service and is presumed to be related to service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability are related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied, and his claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were granted. The issues of increased ratings for various disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and consideration of lay statements. The Veteran's knee conditions may be related to service, but a new VA opinion is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for right ear tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the period since August 1, 2005.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for mononucleosis with secondary hepatitis was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a left lower extremity circulatory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.