Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 20, 2017. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, liver cirrhosis, and ED, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation since March 10, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service due to noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants because her service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active service and is related to noise exposure, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left leg disability has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current tinnitus and active duty service. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not report any ear, nose, or throat trouble at his separation examination in September 1988, and that his tinnitus began more than one year after discharge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, anosmia, bilateral optic neuropathy and glaucoma, and vertigo. The claims were previously denied in a May 2019 rating decision but readjudicated due to new evidence received after January 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for tinnitus was improper and has restored it.

The Veteran's initial claim for TBI residuals was denied, and a separate noncompensable evaluation is also denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of a separate noncompensable evaluation for TBI residuals is denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for MDD with anxious distress, unspecified anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder in early remission, and TBI is denied.,An effective date prior to January 31, 2018, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was not granted before January 31, 2018.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status prior to January 31, 2018, is also denied.,The Veteran's request for a TDIU for the one-year appeal period prior to January 31, 2018, was not granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to a withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied due to the lack of medical or lay evidence showing these conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle disability is remanded as there are duty-to-assist errors related to missing records from Martin Army Hospital and an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board denied the appellant's claims for a burial allowance in excess of $300, an interment allowance, and reimbursement of transportation expenses.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his current symptoms are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD and persistent depressive disorder are currently rated at 70 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not warrant an increased rating as it does not meet the criteria for chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.