Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (COPD and pulmonary nodules) and a cardiac disability (valvular heart disease, bradycardia, congestive heart failure) is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,For the entire initial rating period, a 30 percent rating for cervical disc disease is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The claims were denied initially but were reconsidered after new evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's kidney problems (now claimed as kidney stones) were reopened due to new and material evidence, but service connection is still pending.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings and earlier effective date for sleep apnea was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to November 4, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran was granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and there were no exceptional factors from his service-connected disabilities that precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance rate or the housebound rate.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various conditions. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Reserve service dates and types, obtaining complete medical records, and providing opinions on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded for further review, as the Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to February 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, low back pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand disability and tinnitus are granted. The claim for service connection for a left foot degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and associated neuropathies, as well as his gunshot wound to the left shoulder, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 27, 2023. From that date forward, the issue of TDIU is moot.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands the cases for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish a chronic condition in service or continuous symptomatology post-service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in service and is unrelated to service.