Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The claim for service connection for a mid-back disability is dismissed. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied, and the claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 2, 2019, and from July 1, 2019, for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an ear disability, other than hearing loss and tinnitus, due to a lack of response to scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran is asked to provide evidence that his ear pain complaints constitute a separate disability from his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to active duty service. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 10, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development due to incomplete examination records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are both established. The Veteran also has service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Right shoulder disability, right heel spur, and right knee condition (secondary) have been granted.,Service connection for a right knee condition remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss disability, and vertigo have been denied due to lack of current diagnoses.,Service connection has also been denied for hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a cardiovascular disorder (including CAD).,The Veteran's claim for entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for polycystic kidney disease has been granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy (both lower extremities), prostate cancer, and tinnitus have all been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 22, 2021 is denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to this date remains before the Board and has been REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and a left knee disability, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from April 1, 2011, to January 19, 2012. The Board granted TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the tinnitus issue has been withdrawn. The hearing loss issue is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while his claim for a bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve disorder remains denied.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to presumed exposure during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of tinnitus and the symptoms experienced by the Veteran were found to be transient head noises unrelated to service.

The appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeals for increased rating for anxiety and depression, service connection for low back disorder, knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in the rating of foot eczema from 60% to 10% was found to be procedurally improper, and the original 60% rating is restored. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus but denied for low back disorder, bilateral foot numbness and tingling, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, left shoulder disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), tinnitus, and hearing loss, have limited him to sedentary work since October 4, 2006. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history from October 4, 2006 to January 11, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for head trauma with blurred vision and headaches, tinnitus as secondary to head trauma, bilateral hearing loss as secondary to head trauma, and congenital deformities of the feet have been reopened. Service connection is granted for head trauma with blurred vision and headaches and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to head trauma. The claim for tinnitus has not yet been decided due to a remand.