Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran died from COPD, which is not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence in previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or missing service treatment records, and for additional development of his disabilities. The issues include DDD (back pain), scoliosis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, deviated nasal septum, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2023. Beginning on that date, his TDIU is granted due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD. The issue of SMC based on housebound status has been dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, which is the highest possible under DC 8100. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his attacks do not qualify as very frequent and prostrating.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential service causation.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on A&A or TDIU due to his ability to work and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's service connection claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of adequate reasoning and bases regarding the theory of service connection based on in-service vaccinations. The VA is required to obtain opinions from an appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of his COPD, sleep apnea, gall bladder removal, inguinal hernia, knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, functional bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (secondary to service-connected disability), and acid reflux have been partially granted. The claim for hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Claims for higher ratings for functional bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids were denied as they do not meet the schedular criteria. Service connection for tinnitus and acid reflux has been established, but erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected disability remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for vasomotor rhinitis need to be remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and sleep apnea as these conditions were previously granted in an August 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and his claim for increased rating for facial scars has been remanded. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, and a 10 percent rating is granted for painful facial scars.

The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer residuals for further development. The Veteran's dermopathy associated with diabetes mellitus, type 2, and diabetes mellitus are already at their maximum schedular ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 26, 2021 was denied as the evidence did not support that he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

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

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a diagnosis prior to death. The case is remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's tinnitus.