Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is remanded due to evidence of worsening.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 30, 2010, for a 10 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain is dismissed as the appeal represents a freestanding claim and not a request to revise a final decision based on CUE.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 13, 2013, for service connection of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied as the earliest date that it can be factually ascertained that radiculopathy was demonstrated is August 13, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded as there is no evidence of service connection prior to June 11, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for tinnitus is remanded as there is no evidence of service connection prior to June 11, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip disability is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to June 14, 2014. The Board has also remanded the issue of extraschedular TDIU due to the severity of his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea due to incomplete VA medical opinions. The AOJ will obtain additional opinions regarding whether a service-connected disease or injury caused obesity, if obesity is a factor in the Veteran's sleep apnea, and whether his sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the condition originated during active service due to noise exposure as an aircraft engine repairman.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, tinnitus, left hip tenosynovitis, right hip tenosynovitis, and cervical spondylosis.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims for tinnitus and high blood pressure.,Service connection is being sought for these conditions, with the exception of diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea which have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, resulting in a TDIU being granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability as secondary to a service-connected condition have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.,Specifically, the VA examiner indicated that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, tinnitus due to an in-service disease, injury, or event, and cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left clavicle fracture. The Board found that the Veteran's claims were denied based on lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his sole service-connected disability, Meniere's syndrome with left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, already grants him a 100% schedular rating. The back disorder issue is remanded for further development.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) has been reopened, but the rating for degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine with spondylosis remains remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issue of secondary service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent since February 15, 2018. The decision also remanded the issue of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective dates for the granted benefits are not earlier than October 19, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all at their maximum allowable levels or do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination and consideration of lay statements regarding military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability related to in-service noise exposure for his tinnitus, an injury during service for his left knee condition, and symptoms since service for his right knee condition.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, head injury, scar above the left eye, and anal fissure. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on presumptive service connection due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with anxiety and depression, coronary artery disease, and ischemic heart disease have been denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been granted a higher rating of 40 percent from July 9, 2006 to July 21, 2014.