Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disorder, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremity sciatic nerves, tinnitus, and GERD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous evidence in service records. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for a determination on whether the Veteran's discharge from February 1950 to April 1957 constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits. The other service connection issues are also being remanded due to their inextricability with this issue.

The Veteran's tinnitus is caused by or related to his in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for a bilateral vision disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to use of custom insoles/sling supports was denied as shoes are not classified as articles of 'clothing' that can be damaged by wear and tear for purposes of a VA clothing allowance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM) has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Specifically, the Board concluded that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. For hypertension, the Board noted that it was diagnosed prior to the onset of service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM).

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple disabilities were denied, and the effective dates assigned are not earlier than February 27, 2017.,VA did not grant an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate as the Veteran did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% prior to February 27, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to conflicting evidence regarding delayed onset.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but these issues are remanded due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, Lyme disease, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, closed head injury, and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claims for a right arm disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and right leg disorder are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The evidence supports a causal link between the Veteran's military service and his present disabilities.

The Veteran's SMC is granted for the period between January 6, 2017 and February 28, 2018 due to having a single service-connected disability rated at 100% with additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Veteran had a 100% rating for left knee arthroplasty and other conditions like bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ring finger disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were noted in service and have continued since then. The decision is based on continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his VA Form 9 was untimely filed. The decision also noted that he did not timely appeal the denial of left knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating, as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations. For TDIU, the Veteran did not qualify based on his combined service-connected disability ratings.