Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, likely PTSD, as the Veteran's statements regarding onset are inconsistent with medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic periodontal disease, tinnitus, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy are all denied. The claim for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is pending as it was not granted prior to February 23, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2019. As a result, the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 2, 2014. The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are granted. The acquired psychiatric condition claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial compensable rating for contact dermatitis, service connection for sleep apnea and a sleep disorder, and service connection for tinnitus due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's GERD, as the July 2021 VA examination is insufficient for adjudicative purposes.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had its onset in service and has been continuous since discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbosacral degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, right elbow degenerative joint disease, and others, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 13, 2021.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the previous VA examinations were inadequate. The Veteran was remanded to provide addendum opinions addressing his lay statements and service treatment records regarding in-service noise exposure and symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was reinstated due to a timely filed request for extension of time, and his claims are now considered granted.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including those for seizures, loss of bladder control (urinary tract condition), hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, residuals of left Achilles tendon tear, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and stress fractures of both feet. The decision also addressed whether the Veteran's character of discharge is a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10% evaluation.,For the periods from May 2, 2018, to June 30, 2020, and beginning September 16, 2020, the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities such as left knee instability and lumbosacral strain, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 12, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 22, 2016.