Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and lower back disorder, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence. The claim for residuals of a head injury is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his tinnitus, right eye disabilities, PTSD, migraine headaches, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports, which did not consider the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and pre-service audiograms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board has remanded both issues due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, was denied as the most persuasive evidence demonstrated that his current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder did not have its onset during active duty service or was otherwise etiologically related to service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to a lack of VA examination records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine disability, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 26, 2018. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during service and has continued to the present.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's tinnitus. The remaining issues are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left shoulder scar, and sinusitis due to outstanding records and a need for further examination. The Veteran will have an opportunity to present additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective dates are not specified.,Issues related to rating increases and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service. However, service connection for pulmonary embolism was denied as it is not considered an injury incurred during INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection, with the PTSD receiving an initial disability rating of 70 percent from August 28, 2018 to December 29, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lymphoma was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for service connection for a low back disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided that additional evidence was submitted and requires further review by the AOJ, including consideration of all evidence since the December 2018 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and a 30 percent disability rating, effective July 3, 2018.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was also granted with a 30 percent disability rating from July 3, 2018.