Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and has persisted since service.,Hypercholesterolemia is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim cannot be granted.,There is no current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or renal dysfunction. The Veteran's complaints are deemed subjective and self-reported without objective evidence supporting these conditions.,The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and nephrolithiasis which were diagnosed post-service but not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as the etiology of the condition remains unclear.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (degenerative arthritis) is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for nephrolithiasis is remanded as there are no definitive diagnoses prior to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for depression and anxiety is denied as there are no current diagnoses of these conditions. The Veteran's right hand and left hand disabilities are also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to herbicide agent exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus were granted service connection, with a rating of 100% for the former from May 9, 2017 to September 21, 2020. The effective dates for these conditions are not established as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered a present disability that had its onset in service and has existed chronically since then.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date of service connection for tinnitus prior to April 25, 2017 and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence presented in the October 2021 Informal Hearing Presentation. The Veteran's claims are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his claims for a headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include memory loss), sleep disorder, hypertension, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that she is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of any right arm neurological disability associated with his service-connected Dupuytren's nodule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, with the claims being granted. The Board found that there is at least a reasonable possibility of establishing service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to his military duties, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus, right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease all had their respective ratings either denied or not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and right knee condition are all granted service connection. The back condition is denied.,Service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and right knee condition has been established based on the in-service stressors and noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted service connection for Meniere's syndrome and tinnitus, but the appeal regarding hyperacusis is dismissed.,Hyperacusis is rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 6211, which does not provide a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea were denied.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of tinnitus and hearing loss for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed due to inadequate medical opinions in his previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's SMC claim for aid and attendance is granted. The diabetes rating appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings of various conditions, including tinnitus, OSA, rhinitis, and migraine headaches. Service connection was granted for pancreatic cancer presumptively related to burn pit exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the spine) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial employment consistent with his educational background and work history. Therefore, a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability for the period beginning August 22, 2008 is granted.