Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance prior to June 9, 2020, as there was no evidence showing the Veteran needed regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected conditions before that date.

The Veteran submitted new evidence after the August 2007 rating decision, including service treatment records from his deployment to Afghanistan. This evidence is relevant to the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus and may prove or disprove the in-service injury or illness element on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremities were denied as the earliest claim was filed on June 22, 2018.,Both conditions were granted service connection from that same date.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional error in not considering a private audiogram.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment present. For TDIU, the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements and his claim for extraschedular consideration was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all under review.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, and no further action is required.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he does not meet the criteria for such benefits, as his service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60% or more and he is not permanently confined to his dwelling due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury or disease, including military noise exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and Agent Orange due to lack of specificity in his notice of disagreement. The appeal is moot as a new rating decision granted service connection for tinnitus with a maximum 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to require regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted effective June 30, 2009. The earlier effective date for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 30, 2017 is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's continuous receipt of a 100% schedular rating and housebound special monthly compensation.