Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions alone.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 9, 2017.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the bilateral hands is denied.,Compensable initial ratings for right and left shin splints are denied.,Service connection for residuals of an injury to the tailbone, neck disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, insomnia, and vertigo is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination and unclear opinions regarding pre-service conditions, aggravation by service, and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's forehead and left forearm scars are granted initial 10 percent ratings.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints, MDD and GAD secondary to PTSD, and migraine headache disability secondary to PTSD is granted.,Service connection for gastroenteritis, chronic bronchitis, and cervical dysplasia is denied.

The Veteran was denied clothing allowances in 2013, but testified at a hearing that he needed them for specific disabilities. The Board finds the matter remanded to issue an SSOC.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and stomach ulcer.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 12, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. His CAD rating is restored to 60 percent effective November 1, 2016. The right and left shoulder disorders are remanded for further examination. Service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is denied. Service connection for stroke, balance disorder, and cognitive disorder (presumably due to TBI) remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed additional disabilities of right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches as a result of his March 1998 VA surgery. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus had its onset during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus is denied.,PTSD disability rating in excess of 70 percent is denied. Total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with insomnia disorder, but the Board finds that such an effective date is not warranted.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for facial burns and tinnitus. The Board denied these claims as well.

An effective date of March 17, 2009, is granted for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with meniscal tear are remanded.

The appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability are dismissed as the Veteran's claims were improperly docketed under the AMA.,The appeals for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are also dismissed due to improper docketing under the AMA.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and left eyebrow scar are denied. The right hand condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition), and lumbar spine condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition) are all remanded for further evaluation.