Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left hip disabilities have been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but he is now rated at 100% for PTSD. As a result, the claim for TDIU as of November 6, 2020 is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection. However, the decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was remanded for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection for tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to her in-service exposure to noise. Service connection for a mass on her left ear was denied due to lack of evidence of an active disease process during the claim period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is sufficient to result in a grant of service connection for tinnitus. The Board resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran and found that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is denied because he does not meet the statutory criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). He has a combined disability rating of 30 percent and no service-connected disability rated higher than 10 percent, which prevents him from qualifying for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective December 22, 2009. The decision also grants the Veteran a 70 percent rating for PTSD since December 22, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the November 2018 VA opinion inadequate and remands the case to obtain a new VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that additional development is needed. The issues include a rating in excess of 30 percent for peripheral vestibular disorder, a compensable rating for post-operative right tympanoplasty for perforated right tympanic membrane, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates on all issues related to service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced ringing in his ears during service and it has continued since then, supporting a finding of continuity of symptomatology. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was dismissed because he failed to provide the necessary information and documentation as requested by VA, resulting in his abandonment of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and his employment difficulties are attributed to non-service connected factors.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 1, 2014. The issue of TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that his disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not result in total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a denial of a rating in excess of 70 percent. From May 16, 2019 to October 1, 2021, the issue of TDIU was moot as he had a maximum schedular rating (100%). From October 1, 2021 onwards, TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right forearm disability, and disability of digits IV and V of the right hand are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and back disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, as the Veteran's description of his post-service noise exposure is unclear. The VA needs to clarify this information and provide an addendum opinion.