Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 70 percent effective March 29, 2023. This is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as depression, suicidal ideation, near continuous panic, strained relationships, memory issues, and illogical speech.

The Veteran's effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted as March 9, 2020. The Board found the Veteran was permanently and totally disabled on that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were both determined to be incurred during his period of active service, leading to the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus is granted, and his initial rating for tinnitus is maintained at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the claim of right hip disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, lower back pain, right foot pain, left foot pain, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection is denied for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active-duty service, as evidenced by his exposure to hazardous noise during his time as a warehouseman. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service exposure. The Veteran's current disabilities were determined to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a diagnosed hearing disability.,Claims for PTSD and tinnitus were granted with effective dates of January 30, 2019. However, the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from November 16, 2017, to September 18, 2021. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 16, 2017, is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for Meniere's syndrome was dismissed because the October 2020 rating decision implementing the Board's grant of a 60 percent disability rating is not appealable to the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure, which contributed to his current disabilities.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the prior denials were final due to lack of appeal or submission of new evidence within the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for the remaining conditions listed.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate effective March 12, 2022. The decision is based on his service-connected depression and tinnitus, which together meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss because no rating decision was issued on or after February 19, 2019. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure are at least in approximate balance with the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective November 14, 2019. The Board found that the criteria for an earlier effective date of June 21, 2017 were met.