Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the Board finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including right ankle ankylosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and tinnitus) rendered him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis is remanded as the Board finds that he does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU award.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to active-duty service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and various neuropathy disorders and hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any in-service endocrine, cardiovascular, or vision injury, disease, or event, and that symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, and a vision disorder were not continuous after service separation or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, increased ratings for migraine headaches and tinnitus, and a TDIU due to new evidence received after the August 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD have been dismissed as the AOJ has already granted these conditions in a prior decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for a skin disorder as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of an in-service event.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, residuals of malaria, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic skin disorder have been denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain in-service hospital records and provide the Veteran with an examination.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, cold injury residuals to bilateral hands, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and residuals of fracture to the fourth right finger have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide a new VA examination for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, atrial fibrillation, and residuals of cerebral vascular accident due to a lack of VA treatment records from community care providers. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective February 26, 2019. However, the earlier portion of his claim prior to October 5, 2018, is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 22, 2021 and a higher rating thereafter was denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his combat service in Vietnam.