Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus, a disability subject to lay observation, is found to have had its onset during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for the condition based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be granted as the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate due to lack of analysis and consideration of all relevant medical evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, panic disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a valid diagnosis and directly attributable to active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma/sclerosis, and headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted a higher rating to 70 percent. Service connection for tinnitus remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other service-connected conditions such as hearing loss and tinnitus, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and also granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he was attending school full time and his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable ratings for right and left knee surgical scars have been withdrawn.,The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum rating (60%) available under the law for residuals of his total knee replacements.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, and knee conditions as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to insufficient evidence or further clarification from the parties.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia and depressive disorders, is found to be secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment since December 28, 2020, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of hypertension and tinnitus. The appeal for service connection for DMII is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus disability had its onset during or is otherwise related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for travel reimbursement was granted as he met the eligibility criteria and provided timely documentation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic shoulder pain, and chronic knee pain as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for sleep apnea was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, neck disorder, and back disorder are all found to be related to service. The bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's tinnitus, neck disorder, and back disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as his claims for service connection for a deviated septum and tinnitus due to procedural errors in the initial rating decisions.