Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since September 30, 2020. As of that date, the Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it manifested within one year of his separation from service and is not attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The denial of hearing loss is due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria, while tinnitus was found to be related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether his current tinnitus is related to his already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 27, 2022. As of that date, his combined disability rating reached 100 percent due to additional service-connected conditions, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's combat service is considered, but no relationship between current disabilities and military service could be established.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 18, 2006 for the grant of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual employability (TDIU) is granted. The Board also found that referral for extra-schedular consideration was warranted due to unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to September 18, 2006.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a disorder of the left lower leg, right lower leg, left knee, and right knee disorders are denied.,Service connection for a left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder are denied.,Service connection for rhinitis is granted.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to inadequate examination in the November 2019 rating decision. The issues are: entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for paralysis of the 10th cranial nerve, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder paresis of the 11th cranial nerve. The remand is due to the inadequate examination that did not consider all associated symptoms.

The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral foot disability, right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss for further development.,Service connection was granted for a cervical spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and ensure that they address the combined effects of all relevant conditions, including non-service connected ones.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including DJD of the left arm and ruptured bicep tendon (left arm), residuals of a right arm fracture, accelerated cataracts, CAD, a back condition, and a neck condition. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is also no evidence of arthritis in the left knee, ankle, or foot within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and have continued since. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current disability.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and Parkinson's disease due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is also granted for other trauma and stressor related disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea will be remanded as secondary to the service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends is due to Agent Orange exposure or his service-connected psychiatric disorder, has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for TBI, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, MDD, and alcohol/drug abuse), a sleep disorder (insomnia), acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction (ED).,The appellant's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as his bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA's definition of a disability.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is October 1, 2016, the day after his separation from active service.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple disabilities have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and DMII were reopened due to new evidence. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted in full. Service connection for dyslipidemia was denied because it is not a qualifying disability for VA purposes. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.