Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted.

The Veteran was gainfully employed until June 30, 2014. The Board denied the claim for TDIU prior to July 1, 2014 as there were no service-connected disabilities that prevented the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from December 15, 2014 to May 17, 2023, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a left elbow disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a neck disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder) are not related to his service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has not been precluded from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in service or within one year of service and is not otherwise related to service. The examiner concluded that tinnitus was less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,PTSD is not associated with the claimed conditions of tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, diverticulitis, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as earlier effective dates, due to prior decisions in a previous appeal.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if VA followed proper procedures in scheduling his examinations, which could affect the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, head trauma, bilateral cataracts, and presbyopia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to lack of current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, but his PTSD and tinnitus are granted.,Service connection for PTSD is established based on in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity. Service connection for tinnitus is also established as it is linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 4, 2018 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since August 29, 2020. The effective date for this rating remains August 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are now pending again, but a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a low back condition, right ankle condition, and right knee osteoarthritis. The appeal regarding tinnitus, hearing loss, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) was denied.,A revision of the June 2012 rating decision granting a 10 percent rating for hearing loss with an effective date of January 9, 2012, on the basis of CUE was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, sciatica, left, and sciatica, right due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide a list of all healthcare providers he received treatment from since 1990, including VA facilities.