Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability of these conditions as defined by VA standards. The Board also found that the evidence does not support a finding that either condition began during or within one year following service or was related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to military noise exposure.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of individual unemployability prior to January 29, 2018. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities but needs further review by the Director, Compensation Service due to the need for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a VA examination and additional medical opinions due to deficiencies in the previous negative nexus opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a current left ear hearing loss disability and the VA examiner found no noise exposure during service that could have caused the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. Service connection was also denied as there is no evidence of tinnitus within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, as VA did not obtain such an opinion in the original decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus, and therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's SMC was reduced due to the removal of his single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent. The Board found that he is no longer in receipt of a 100 percent rating for any single service-connected disability, thus denying his appeal to restore SMC.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he has a 100% schedular rating for ischemic heart disease and SMC benefits based on statutory housebound status due to other service-connected disabilities, rendering the TDIU claim moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure and that his current tinnitus did not begin during or immediately after service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not first manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not otherwise due to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that the conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is also established.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and potential procedural errors. The Board will seek additional information from VA medical professionals.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required more than one daily insulin injection and a restricted diet. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.