Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for TBI and Parkinson's like symptoms associated with herbicide exposure are denied.,A 10 percent evaluation for hypertension is granted.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and clarifying the Veteran's work history.

The Board has remanded the cases due to deficiencies in the April 2017 VA examination, and the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete personnel records from the Texas Army National Guard. The DROC is instructed to obtain these records and provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during military training exercises.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left upper extremity disability due to service-connected burn scar. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration of new medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for high blood pressure.,The Board found that the Veteran's military service likely exposed him to noise hazards, which contributed to his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to August 23, 2023, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The issue of TDIU beginning on or after August 23, 2023, is moot as the Veteran has been in receipt of a combined 100% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have more nearly approximated the criteria for occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since June 5, 2020.,From June 17, 2019, multiple service-connected disabilities rendered the Veteran unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, bi-polar disorder, Meniere's disease (MD), vertigo, right ear hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Board will consider these issues in light of any new evidence obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his initial period of active duty training and has persisted since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the August 2013 rating decision that assigned a separate 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, as it was already included in the 60 percent evaluation for Meniere's syndrome. The Board determined that severance of service connection for tinnitus is proper.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also has service-connected tinnitus and other conditions that do not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 5, 2019 for a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) rating. The decision found that entitlement to TDIU did not arise until January 5, 2019 when the combined disability rating of 70 percent was achieved.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to tinnitus, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, tinnitus, squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and tongue, and left shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome have been readjudicated. The claims for left knee disability and left shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome are granted, while those for thoracolumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate and tongue remain denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and rated at 10%. The rating for his MDD remains at 70%, but a TDIU is granted. OSA service connection is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with no specific exposure basis provided.