Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from February 1, 2007 to February 22, 2010. Therefore, a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, effective from February 11, 2016.

The Veteran's migraines and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left knee condition and right knee condition are denied as service connected.,The Veteran's psoriasis and bilateral foot condition are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD related to military service.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the onset likely during service aboard the U.S.S. Bataan.,Service connection is remanded for bilateral hearing loss due to potential noise exposure in service.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent is remanded for left knee disability and right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and physical disabilities separately result in her requiring regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is inextricably intertwined with his hearing loss claim.

The Board dismissed the issue of TDIU from August 3, 2015 to December 3, 2015 as moot due to a previous grant. The Veteran was granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) at the housebound rate for his service-connected disabilities starting February 3, 2020.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving his right hand condition, bilateral knee conditions, tinnitus, head injury residuals, headaches, diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The reasons for remand include inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus (diabetes), is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, to include as secondary to service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (hereinafter GERD) and/or as secondary diabetes, is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for diabetes, to include as due to herbicide agent and pesticide / insecticide exposure, is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a nerve disorder, to include as due to radiation exposure, herbicide agent exposure, and pesticide / insecticide exposure, and/or secondary to diabetes, is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include residuals of a pulmonary embolism, to include as secondary to diabetes, is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide agent and pesticide / insecticide exposure and/or a secondary to diabetes, is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide agent and pesticide / insecticide exposure and/or as secondary to diabetes, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.,Service connection was also granted for a right shoulder condition, with the Board finding it is related to an injury sustained during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied, and the claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD were granted. The grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD is based on new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding its relationship to his active duty service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of audiometric testing meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since then.,Diabetes mellitus is remanded for additional examination and review of private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service disease or injury related to tinnitus and that the Veteran did not experience symptoms of tinnitus until approximately two years after service discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and left ankle strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 1, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic disability during service. The Board also found that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted. The case has been remanded for additional development regarding his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension (pre-PACT Act) have been withdrawn.,Hypertension is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development due to a significant change in his employment status and the need to reassess whether he has an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The cases of hypertension, sinusitis, and bilateral eye irritation are remanded due to the need for additional development.