Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% evaluation effective April 26, 2019.,SMC based on housebound criteria was also granted effective April 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam for CAD, and a positive opinion regarding an in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 20, 1988 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and supraventricular arrhythmia (previously rated as heart arrhythmia).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are collectively so severe as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, OSA, hypertension, and a back disability have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions.,Service connection has not been established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective April 8, 2022, the date of his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for tinnitus, headaches disability (as secondary to tinnitus), and an increased rating for right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, is being remanded due to a lack of adequate medical examination and opinion. The Board will request a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began in-service and has continued since. However, the bilateral hearing loss claim was denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between service exposure and current hearing issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for depression, anxiety, and insomnia are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for bruxism, psoriasis, and squamous cell cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected because it began during active duty and the Board finds that his self-diagnosis of tinnitus while in service is credible.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and Crohn's disease due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred these conditions during his active service.

The Board has denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 27, 2020 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not precluding him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 27, 2023. The Board has determined that a TDIU is warranted beginning on this date. However, the AOJ must correct any duplicate ratings for his service-connected conditions and refer the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to July 27, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, as they do not result in physical loss of use of hands or feet, severe burn injury, vision impairment, or ALS.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to hazardous noise exposure during active duty. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing disability meeting VA criteria.,The decision also notes that the appellant did not meet the requirements for a current hearing loss disability under VA's standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus symptoms are continuous since service and have been attributable to his military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of a non-VA prescription medication from October 23, 2023 is denied as the treatment was not related to an emergency medical visit and did not meet the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1728.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus has been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.