Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder, prostate cancer residuals, degenerative joint disease, sinusitis, right foot sprain residuals, left knee strain, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU due to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining employment consistent with his occupational and vocational experience, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ADHD, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, scar, and left ear hearing loss, collectively precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal is dismissed as there has been a full grant of an earlier effective date for the TDIU award, covering the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 or § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective July 18, 2019. Service connection for esophageal cancer is remanded due to the PACT Act's expansion of presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder. The Board finds the March 2022 private opinion of Dr. W. to be adequate and persuasive, finding that the current credible medical literature supports the finding that obstructive sleep apnea develops from PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 10, 2019. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and asthma were granted under the PACT Act with effective dates of August 10, 2022. An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not begin during service or is otherwise related to his military noise exposure, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of STRs and an incomplete VA examination regarding the Veteran's testicular condition. The Veteran is entitled to further development in these areas.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he is not entitled to an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, given his current service-connected disabilities and existing levels of SMC.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, and right hip disability. The appeal for a right knee disability is remanded, as well as the one for a low back disability and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the service connection claim for headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and kidney stones. The decision found that there is no current evidence of these conditions, and thus cannot establish a link to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it was incurred during his active service. The decision also dismissed the appeal concerning compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for status post reduction and internal fixation of the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer with kidney cancer and obstructive sleep apnea, render him unemployable. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted from March 4, 2021 to November 29, 2023.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, to include social anxiety, have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left achilles tendonitis and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is granted.