Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was denied as there is no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected conditions within the year preceding his TDIU claim. The Board found that the Veteran had worked in various labor jobs and did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 11, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus II, and tinnitus prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus, due to a lack of evidence linking BPPV to active service or to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her active-duty service.

Total disability due to individual unemployability is granted effective April 16, 2019 and from June 11, 2020 onward.,TDIU prior to April 16, 2019 and from December 1, 2019 to June 10, 2020 is remanded due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional procedural and evidentiary development, including verifying the exact dates of the appellant's Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA) periods in his Army National Guard service. The AOJ is also instructed to adjudicate the claims on the merits.

Service connection for tinnitus, MDD, GAD, and unspecified insomnia disorder as secondary to tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a cervical spine condition and low back condition is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches (secondary to tinnitus) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back condition, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are the date of claim (April 9, 2014 for PTSD, May 20, 2015 for other disabilities).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and TDIU as part and parcel of these increased rating claims. The audiogram results from the October 2022 VA examination are missing from the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional development is needed with addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate consideration of medical treatise evidence in the July 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied because it is not factually ascertainable that the disability increased in severity within one year prior to July 3, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 17, 2005.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral knee disability are granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected sinusitis is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, but these claims are denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine condition, but this claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.,Regarding right hip disorder and left hip disorder, the evidence does not establish a current disability.