Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability before May 20, 2014. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include asbestos-related plaques, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, rhabdomyolysis (right and left lower extremities), and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is entitled to special monthly compensation based on regular aid and attendance due to his need for assistance with daily activities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not present during service, continuously symptomatic since service, or present within one year of the Veteran’s separation from service. The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because there was no pending claim for TDIU or an increased rating for PTSD prior to the July 27, 2015 application. The effective date of the TDIU grant is set at July 27, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for denture discomfort was denied as there is no evidence of a disabling dental condition due to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right knee bursitis and bilateral tinnitus cases are denied, while the other issues on appeal remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant federal records and providing adequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, provide a new VA examination for psychiatric conditions, and schedule a new VA hearing loss and tinnitus examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus disability and for right foot talipes equinovarus (clubfoot). Service connection for cardiovascular disorder, diagnosed as CAD, was denied due to lack of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU rating and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to July 17, 2017 are granted due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored service connection for tinnitus as the initial grant of service connection was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted effective from the date of receipt of the claim. The Veteran is rated at 100% for his psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran was found to have met the criteria for eligibility for schedular consideration of TDIU since March 26, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began in March 2011 if not sooner, which is more than one year prior to the filing of the TDIU application. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU cannot be awarded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may prove or disprove their existence.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed as you have withdrawn your request.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus, but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted service connection. The Veteran's type two diabetes mellitus, bilateral open angle glaucoma, and tinnitus are not granted increased ratings. The Veteran's sinusitis, tonsillectomy residuals, right wrist Dequervain's syndrome, right ring finger fracture, erectile dysfunction, and right epididymitis status post epididymectomy do not warrant increased ratings. A TDIU is granted from October 1, 2007 to February 28, 2013, and from January 22, 2018 on.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure to notify him of the rescheduled VA examination, and for further development including scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hand disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD status post CABG due to outstanding private treatment records and additional opinions needed.