Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and hearing loss are remanded due to unresolved medical and procedural matters.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to failure to substantially comply with the February 2023 Board Remand instructions. The RO must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition and tinnitus due to outstanding private treatment records and U.S. Postal Service duty limitations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea was denied, while his claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's UDD is related to his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral heel spurs had its onset during his active service and are now service-connected.,The Veteran's spine disability is proximately due to his now-service-connected bilateral heel spurs.,The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his active service.,The Veteran withdrew the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically addressing the significance of normal hearing on separation and the potential impact of a gap in documented medical treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal involves issues related to his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus has been denied as the condition is not shown to have been so exceptional or unusual as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of his knees, ankles, and feet are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, hepatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to missing treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Effective August 5, 2021, service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War.,Direct service connection for allergic rhinitis prior to August 5, 2021 is not granted. The claim will be remanded for further development.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, specifically plantar fasciitis, is not granted and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right ankle, left ankle, and left knee scars are not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to their non-painful and stable nature.,Tonsillitis is currently assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6599-6516. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant additional ratings.

Effective dates of September 15, 2015 are granted for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Migraine Headaches, Tinnitus, and Left Ear Hearing Loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional evidence being added to his file and for further examination of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred and remands the cases for VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the claims for service connection for neuropathy in the left arm, including as due to the service-connected left shoulder disability, and bilateral tinnitus.

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 are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service, including noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, urinary frequency, hemorrhoids, depression, and insomnia as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, tinea pedis, and hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been fully resolved as it was granted in an August 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were dismissed as they did not meet the procedural requirements under the modernized review system (AMA).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including kidney stones, tinnitus, high frequency bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral cataracts, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period of August 30, 2022, to January 24, 2023.