Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss and skin cancer are being further evaluated.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 31, 2012. However, the issues of service connection for hypertension and lumbar spine disorder, as well as evaluations for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee instability, and left knee instability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were not shown as chronic in service, nor did they manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The persuasive weight of the evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,During the appellate period, the Veteran's diabetes required only restricted diet and regulation of activities with no use of insulin injections or hypoglycemic agents. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy did not meet the criteria for disability benefits at any time during the period on appeal. The Veteran's PTSD manifested by symptoms productive of depressed mood, mild memory loss, difficulty understanding complex commands, disturbances of motivation and mood, but did not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,For tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing more than 20% body or exposed area affected.,The Veteran's low back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, erectile dysfunction, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further development as VA examinations may be necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Chronic sinusitis and headaches have been remanded due to lack of evidence showing current disability or in-service event.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back condition (claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Board found that new evidence submitted by the Veteran supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during or shortly after his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as his current protected work environment with VA does not allow for substantial income generation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his combined rating for service-connected conditions (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar wart, and hypertension) is less than the required 70% to warrant a TDIU on schedular basis. The Board found that he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are now considered. The Board has also remanded several other issues due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is due to in-service exposure to military acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability has been granted, but the issue is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU as of April 12, 2021, due to the Veteran's service-connected vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus which render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since. The decision is based on credible evidence of the onset of tinnitus during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a procedural error in sending notice of the February 2014 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of pulmonary fibrosis, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The claim for PTSD was granted.

The Board found the Appellant's misconduct in service was not willful and persistent, thus allowing VA benefits to be received despite his other-than-honorable discharge.