Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as it does not result in reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect or difficulty understanding complex commands.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and shoulder disorders, headaches, tinnitus, and a low back disorder. The claim for increased rating of chondromalacia of the right knee was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and headaches and tinnitus secondary to head trauma.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a finding of in-service onset. The claims are granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service stressor.

The veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied, and his claim for an increased disability evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to additional SMC by reason of need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than loss of use of both feet.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal before a decision could be made by the Board.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and entitlement to an increased evaluation for keloid scar of the left ear have been granted. Service connection for hearing loss is pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the claims for tinnitus and an increased rating for PTSD.

The veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss with tinnitus have been granted increased ratings, effective June 10, 2023. The tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, while the hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, so a total rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's tinnitus, finding that it is related to his inservice noise exposure and resolving all doubts in favor of the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's overpayment of disability compensation benefits should be waived for a portion covering December 1, 1994, through March 31, 1998. However, recovery is denied for the period from October 1, 1994, through November 31, 1994.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted as there is medical evidence showing a nexus between the left upper extremity disability and VA surgery in June 1986.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his tinnitus claim and for an increased rating for his tension headaches, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the tinnitus claim and that the current 10 percent evaluation for tension headaches is appropriate.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been granted. Service connection has been established for residuals of a right shoulder injury, tinnitus, and left knee disorder. The veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation for his compression fracture at L1.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent.