Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone meets the criteria for a single disability rated at 100 percent, and his other disabilities combine to meet or exceed a 60 percent rating. Therefore, SMC at the housebound rate is granted from December 2, 2019, to May 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spasmodic torticollis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Tinnitus, right shoulder disability, and low back disability have all reached their maximum schedular ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and tinnitus, finding no current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are both granted.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and tinnitus, finding no current disability during the appeal period. The Veteran's claim for liver damage was remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for liver damage was not granted as there was no daily symptoms or incapacitating episodes within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of noise exposure during active duty and his current symptoms, with a finding that the most persuasive evidence does not weigh against finding that his tinnitus was due to in-service noise exposure. For hearing loss, the Board found that the Veteran did not have disabling hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The left knee and low back conditions are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have started during service and continued, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was correctly calculated by the RO in May 2022, resulting in a 43 percent rating. The Board finds that this calculation is correct and denies the claim for a higher combined rating.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a stressor related to his military service and insufficient medical evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as it involves secondary service connection based on toxic exposure risk activity.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective January 30, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to this date due to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board denied compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to a March 1998 VA surgical procedure on the Veteran's right ear. The decision found that the surgery did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports a finding that it began during service.,Service connection for generalized arthritis and bursitis is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and tinnitus, need further development due to a lack of an informal DRO telephone conference. The Veteran is requested to schedule an informal DRO hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 2, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show that he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also not found to be related to service.,There is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss that meets VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a surgical bypass scar were denied. The effective date for the grant of a 30 percent rating for atrial fibrillation was not earlier than May 1, 2020.,Compensable ratings for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. A compensable rating for the surgical bypass scar was not granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined service-connected disability rating did not meet the threshold for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral persistent tinnitus but has remanded the claim of high blood pressure due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.