Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as of August 10, 2022 due to the assignment of a combined disability rating of 100 percent. Prior to that date, the Veteran did not meet the schedular threshold for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for an updated addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection. Service connection for TBI was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disorder due to inconsistencies in evidence and assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as he was employed full-time in a protected work environment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and low back disability. Additional records development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of right shoulder, low back, neck, left knee, costochondritis, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence supporting an earlier effective date, and the current assigned ratings are considered appropriate based on the medical findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The claims of reopening for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have both been granted, but the rating assigned is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's IBS is denied as the record does not show continuity of symptoms since service or a nexus to service.,The Veteran's low back disorder is remanded due to inadequate opinion in the September 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The increased rating for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia disorder), lumbosacral strain, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, leftward septal deviation, nose and neck scars, and urinary disability (manifested by increased frequency).,The Board found the evidence to be approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lower back disability, radiculopathies, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since July 28, 2022. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for high cholesterol, bilateral eye disability, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to hazardous noise as an aircraft technician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from March 25, 2022. The Board found it factually ascertainable that the Veteran was unemployable due to his obstructive sleep apnea and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to address whether there was sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reasons of his service-connected disabilities, and to refer the claim for extra-schedular consideration of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during active-duty service or within one year of separation.