Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 7, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he attributes to military noise exposure during basic training.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other disabilities did not result in a combined rating of at least 100% for a continuous period of eight years immediately preceding his death, thus denying the claim for enhanced DIC benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum SMC rate due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD/MDD at 60% or more.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claims for vertigo, breast cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The claim for coronary atherosclerotic disease is also remanded.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to April 2, 2022, effective October 12, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment since at least October 2021.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, effective May 22, 2023.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for right total hip replacement and related conditions are granted.,An earlier effective date of May 22, 2023, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for recurrent tinnitus is granted.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision. The PACT Act requires VA to provide a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and toxic exposure risk activities during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the original decision. The issues are being remanded for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from at least August 9, 2017, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, OSA, left knee disability, and tinnitus) have rendered him unemployable, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disability due to a lack of persuasive evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee scar have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines, but his low back disability remains unresolved.,VA has determined that a compensable rating for the left knee scar is not warranted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee scar have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines, but his low back disability remains unresolved.