Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus disability is denied as there was no formal or informal claim received prior to September 19, 2017.,Service connection for stomach pain secondary to hernia surgery and abdominal scar are both denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her active-duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lower back disability, and right shoulder disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether each condition is related to service.,Service connection has been established for all three conditions: tinnitus, lumbar spine arthritis (lower back disability), and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found no causal relationship between the current hearing loss and service, while finding in-service onset of tinnitus.

The Veteran's application for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral fingers crush injury residuals, thoracolumbar spine disorder, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, kidney disease, urinary incontinence, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. Service connection for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased rating for a back disability and service connection for postphlebitic syndrome. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted with service connection, but his left hip strain claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, a right hand small finger laceration, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted since the February 2014 rating decision. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus from December 15, 2017 remains remanded due to the need for further development and clarification.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gulf War Illness, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome are all remanded as there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine their validity.,Service connection will be granted based on direct evidence of a condition during service or otherwise established by competent medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding his left quadricep or thigh injury, left ankle condition, head injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The cases are being returned for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for left ankle, left shoulder, acid reflux, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral flat feet, calcaneal spurs, lumbar spondylolysis L5 with spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities), tinnitus, and hiatal hernia, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 11, 2023. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has decided to remand all the claims for further review due to new evidence obtained after the February 2020 statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral shin splints is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the presence of a disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements of in-service noise exposure and post-service symptoms are credible enough to establish a continuity of symptomatology since service. As tinnitus is considered a presumptive disease due to noise exposure during service, the claim is granted.

An increased 50 percent rating for a thoracic/lumbar spine disability is granted.,Prior to June 21, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment. Since June 21, 2019, his acquired psychiatric disability has made it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Since June 21, 2019, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen this claim. Service connection for deviated septum, sleep apnea, and hemorrhoids are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case to refer the issue of TDIU prior to June 22, 2012 for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet schedular requirements for TDIU but may warrant referral for extraschedular review.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted a compensable rating of 40 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.