Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and the claims for nodular eczema at the left thigh, bunion disorder on the left foot, muscle cramps in the left lower extremity, asthma, and right ear fluid were all denied. The rating of 10% for the scar on the left thigh is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all four issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC based on housebound status due to multiple separate disabilities rated at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are all denied. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's tinnitus as it manifested within one year of his separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.,Service connection was withdrawn for left elbow, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted readjudication of the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial. The claims are pending further review.

The Veteran's request for higher-level review of his claims was timely filed. The AOJ must now review the underlying claims and provide a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, as well as to determine an appropriate effective date for tinnitus service connection. The issues of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, sinus disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bowel disorder, headaches, enlarged prostate disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for a skin disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and is related to in-service acoustic trauma, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypertensive heart disease, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence indicates other employment opportunities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of tinnitus and the denial of service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and right wrist disabilities are being remanded. The issue of TDIU prior to August 3, 2019 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period prior to September 16, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions have impacted his ability to work.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his dementia and subsequent death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Appellant's service connection claims, including tinnitus and PTSD. The character of discharge determination is also remanded. Other specific disabilities are also being reviewed for potential service connection.