Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot bone sprain, residuals of a left foot ganglion cyst removal, depressive disorder other than PTSD, low back disorder, sinusitis, radiating right lower extremity pain, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and migraine headaches have all been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's coronary artery disease rating is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea, tinnitus, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The Meniere's disease claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is being remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is denied as there was no pending claim prior to August 24, 2017, and the evidence does not show a factually ascertainable increase in service-connected disabilities during the one-year look-back period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the hearing loss claim is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to missed VA audiological examination and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is now pending again.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is rated at 100 percent effective February 24, 2020.,A TDIU was granted beginning March 13, 2017. The issue of a TDIU for the period when the 100 percent rating is in effect is moot due to the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status.,Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate is granted effective February 24, 2020.

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

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 19, 2019. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, bilateral hearing loss preexisting service but aggravated by noise exposure during service, and tinnitus likely due to his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was caused by in-service noise exposure. As a result of resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his claim for service connection for tinnitus is now granted.

The Veteran's right little finger disability is granted, but not with a compensable rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with a depressive disorder, residuals of bladder cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unemployable since October 21, 2019. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment from March 28, 2012, to May 6, 2021. The Board granted the claim for TDIU during this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and tinnitus. The cases are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating determinations have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.