Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's reported onset during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 22, 2021. Since then, his 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss does not preclude a TDIU based on tinnitus alone.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) and allowing the Veteran to opt-in to the AMA system if desired.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertensive vascular disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.,The VA examinations found no direct link between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 3, 2017 due to a lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease due to presumed exposure under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation since January 9, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU under 38 CFR §4.16(a) are met from this date.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher, for hypertension. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's back pain and numbness of left thigh are related to service, and thus remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted.,The Veteran has current tinnitus that began during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, residual (nerve damage) s/p fracture right thumb, radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) left lower extremity, and radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including perilymphatic fistula, unspecified depressive disorder, tinnitus, and Meniere's syndrome, have precluded her from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to August 23, 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has found that the VA failed to exhaust all potential locations for the Veteran's service treatment records from October 2011 to May 2012, and thus remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 12, 2017, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,New and material evidence was received that is sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a neck disability.

The Board has found the record inadequate to determine service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia and tinnitus, and thus remanded these claims.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for left knee injury and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or missing service treatment records, and for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure during combat caused his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent under VA regulations.,There is no evidence to support service connection for memory loss as a physical disorder, and there is no indication that Crohn's disease existed prior to active duty military service.,Service connection cannot be granted for an acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma of the left side due to lack of nexus between the condition and military service. The Veteran's regional ileitis/Crohn's disease was not aggravated by such service.,The Veteran does not have evidence that his Crohn's disease existed prior to active duty military service, nor is there any indication that it was aggravated by such service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and multiple spinal cord neuromas are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection cannot be granted for multiple spinal cord neuromas as the Veteran did not provide new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right hip condition, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for low back condition and increased rating for PTSD.