Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, with the psychiatric disorder and headaches being granted. The hysterectomy, left foot disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, left hip disability, and right hip disability claims remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected conditions due to inadequate opinions in the original decision. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for alcohol and substance abuse disorder has been withdrawn. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for PTSD have been granted with a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted as of June 10, 2015, due to his service-connected disabilities and employment in a 'protected environment'. The effective date for this decision is June 10, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted, with a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and bilateral hearing loss were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim for service connection for left eye disorder was reopened, but not granted as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches are granted service connection, but his TBI is denied. The Board found the evidence in equipoise for tinnitus and headaches, granting them based on noise exposure and credible testimony. Service connection for TBI was denied due to lack of documented head injury or concussion during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, diabetes secondary to major depressive disorder, migraines secondary to major depressive disorder, sleep apnea secondary to major depressive disorder, and memory loss are all granted. However, the effective dates prior to February 6, 2018, for these awards have not been established.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis (associated with left knee impairment), and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeal is remanded to obtain updated evidence regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, which is rated at 70 percent since March 11, 2014, has been granted. The effective date for this rating is March 11, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of a hearing, and the Veteran is entitled to one if he requests it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a current disability.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, with the presumption of service connection due to its chronic nature and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in the VA examination provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder (variously diagnosed as major depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder).,Increased SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and earlier effective dates for service connection were denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the Veteran already has.

The Veteran's TDIU benefits are effective from June 30, 2020. The criteria for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits are established from that date.