Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as both conditions are related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or sustain substantially gainful employment, and TDIU is granted on a schedular basis. Prior to October 28, 2021, the Veteran was not in receipt of a 100% rating for his prostate cancer, so entitlement to a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and rated at 10 percent.,Initial ratings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had its onset during his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination as required by law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, diabetes, gout, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection and rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's pancreatic disability remains at a 30 percent rating, with no increase in rating considered.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities did not have their onset during or within one year after service, nor were they related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD, prostate cancer residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU on schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions did not manifest in or were caused by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed within one year from the May 2018 rating decision, which resulted in a denial for increased PTSD and service connection for right foot pain, sinus nasal congestion, tinnitus, and GERD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it meets the criteria for a current disability and there is a link to service.,Right ear hearing loss is denied because no current disability was found, despite in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to a procedural defect.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and related conditions, have resulted in a TDIU effective February 16, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of November 9, 2022. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date was November 9, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a relationship between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 14, 2011, precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.