Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for GERD was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted, but the Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus raise a reasonable possibility of unemployability, but he does not meet the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU. The case is being remanded to determine if extraschedular TDIU consideration should be granted.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal.

Service connection for a right knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disability is granted.,Service connection for a right hip disability and hemorrhoids is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the other issues due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals as to his claims for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely notice of disagreement (NOD). The NODs were not filed within one year of the September 2016 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings and TDIU due to PTSD and alcohol use disorder prior to January 16, 2020 is not yet resolved as there are additional issues of employability with a variety of symptoms and work dysfunctioning. These issues require further development.

The Board denied service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during active duty or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.,Service connection was granted for Tinnitus, as it was incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year after service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have credible testimony regarding his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage standards set forth in 4.16(a) and therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate opinions and need for additional development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including as secondary to hearing loss, are being reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and scleroderma as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Veteran's cause of death (pancreatitis) was not related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure, with no need for secondary or aggravation service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right shoulder and hearing loss cases are remanded for further examination and opinion. TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU were met beginning April 2, 2017.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined rating of 100% for his service-connected conditions, which renders the issue irrelevant.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 11, 2019 is being remanded due to the AOJ not complying with the Board's directives and providing incomplete evaluations. The AOJ needs to provide new assessments from examiners that consider the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his industrial functioning.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for GERD and a cardiovascular disability were dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus, sinusitis, PTSD, and migraine headaches, residual of TBI. Effective dates prior to July 16, 2018, are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, and sleep apnea have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.,There is no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to in-service noise exposure or other events.