Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back condition and related radiculopathies, left shoulder strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined impact of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service.,His claim for an increased rating for deviated septum and post-operative septoplasty prior to April 27, 2021 is remanded due to the lack of relevant medical records within the period on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam) have been granted service connection, with the latter being linked to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The appeal of the increased rating claim for tinnitus is dismissed. The service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder disorder, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus began during active duty.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the reduction in disability rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome from 20% to 10%, as well as the readjudication of service connection for tinnitus. The increased rating claim for anterolisthesis, L4-L5, Status-post Spinal Fusion, L4-5, L5-S1, lumbar spine with osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for loss of sense of smell and tinnitus are granted. The Board has remanded the issues of back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with depression). The issue of secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar strain with scoliosis, render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, allowing for the readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran is found to have a current disability (tinnitus) related to service due to continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as it was present prior to service and did not worsen during service.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied because the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence linking current tinnitus to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU and SMC is remanded due to the need for further development, including a review of her employment history since March 2018 and an extraschedular evaluation of whether her service-connected migraine headaches alone prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to difficulties in contacting the Veteran and ensuring substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current tinnitus and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and causation of his claimed disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, but the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, did not result in an inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2017. The Board denied the claim for TDIU based on insufficient evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disability.