Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to failure to provide VA examinations as required by law. The specific issues include tinnitus, dizziness, headaches, low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and gum disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded because new evidence has been submitted and needs to be considered by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD as the result of exposure to toxic substances during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is granted under the provisions of the PACT Act.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and right thumb disability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee strain, right knee strain, and right ankle sprain residuals. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine whether the Veteran's claimed left-hand condition may be related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected fractured right little finger residuals, as well as whether his claimed right foot condition may be related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing that his current hearing loss began during service or was related to in-service noise exposure.,However, the Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active duty service and has continued to the present. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not addressing a secondary service connection theory for tinnitus, which may be caused by hearing loss. The issue of hearing loss is still pending and needs further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has found no new evidence to reopen the claims, and the existing evidence does not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's right upper extremity and left upper extremity disabilities were not found to be related to service.,Diabetic nephropathy was not shown to have been incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability and TBI are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's shortness of breath claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis at the time of his death.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as he was already receiving the maximum schedular rating for this condition.,The Veteran's conjunctivitis claim is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on active symptoms and residual issues.,The Veteran's ventricular arrhythmias claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence of congestive heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy or dilation.

The Board has granted service connection for a hearing disability, also claimed as ringing in the ears. The claim of service connection for a testicular condition (also claimed as retro-pubic muscle strain and hernia condition) is reopened.

The Veteran was previously employed but resigned due to service-connected disabilities, including back pain and ureteral stricture.,From January 1, 2017, onward, the combination of his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

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

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum available schedular rating for this disability. The Board denied an increased rating.

Service connection is granted for PTSD, MDD, anxiety, migraines, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, MDD, anxiety, migraines, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.