Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of April 28, 2014, and the rating assigned is 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted.

Service connection for tinnitus and a persistent adjustment disorder is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent gynecological disability to include endometriosis, and a recurrent headache disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for a new addendum opinion that reconciles the inadequacies of the prior medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and seizures for further development. The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to noise exposure during service. For bilateral hearing loss and seizures, additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and reports of having tinnitus in-service are credible enough to meet the necessary elements for service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 25, 2015 for the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a separate rating for tinnitus was denied. He is currently rated at 100% for peripheral vestibular disorder with hearing loss, tinnitus, and oscillopsia associated with bilateral hearing loss.

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and a TDIU. The effective date of service connection remains April 10, 2018.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities for the period from September 27, 2012 to December 28, 2015 and for the period from December 29, 2015 to present.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The rating for his bronchial asthma and the TDIU claim were both remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of left knee injury, tinnitus, and bilateral shin splints. The Veteran's claim for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for right maxillary sinusitis secondary to fracture zygoma are denied as the earliest effective date is August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to outstanding VA treatment records, Social Security Administration disability benefit records, and a need for an examination to determine the etiology of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it had its onset during his active duty. The claim for scars on the neck and face remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current headaches and his in-service tinnitus or any other condition. The Board also found that the time difference of 44 years since he filed his original headache claim does not establish continuity of symptomology.