Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grants due to a lack of permanent and total disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including respiratory condition, bilateral hearing loss, and eye conditions, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from November 14, 2014 to April 25, 2021. From April 26, 2021, the Veteran's combined rating is at least 60 percent due to his respiratory condition and other service-connected disabilities, which makes TDIU moot.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding reasonable doubt in favor of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to January 1, 2021. The effective date of the award of SMC based on statutory housebound criteria is granted.,The Veteran does not have any service-connected conditions that qualify under the PACT Act, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or radiation exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms post-service. The VA examiner provided a negative opinion regarding the etiology of the tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2016. The Board has granted TDIU for this period, but has also referred the issue of TDIU prior to June 1, 2016, for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions were dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee condition, a bilateral shoulder condition, and a sleep disorder. The remaining issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, respiratory issues, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right CTS, and left CTS have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for tinnitus has been reopened but denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of inactive pulmonary tuberculosis exposure are remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date earlier than January 30, 2007, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar scar is denied.,Effective dates earlier than September 25, 2018, for the grants of 10% ratings for partial paresthesia and ganglion cyst are denied.

The Board has granted a 50% disability rating for bilateral metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis as of June 24, 2015, but the effective date is set at November 6, 2018 due to the Veteran's failure to timely appeal prior decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disabilities and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims must be returned for new examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from May 19, 2009, to July 15, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has denied service connection for hypoglycemia as it is a laboratory finding and not a disability subject to service connection. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder are denied. The claim for an increased initial rating for lumbar spondylosis is granted at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to comply with VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding obtaining adequate medical opinions for service connection claims. The Veteran was not provided a VA examination and the Court found there was good cause for his non-response.