Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 10, 2014. The decision is based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are caused by his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection was denied as the criteria for assigning such an effective date prior to February 1, 2018 were not met.

Service connection granted for tinnitus. Service connection denied for supine obstructive sleep apnea.,Effective dates earlier than March 23, 2016 and November 8, 2016 for service connection of lumbar strain and pseudofolliculitis barbae are denied.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for referral to the VA Director of Compensation Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) from September 3, 2015 due to evidence suggesting the service-connected disabilities may have rendered the Veteran unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's vertigo is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and idiopathic cardiomyopathy with coronary artery disease and/or atrial fibrillation. The AOJ must obtain addendum medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU and SMC housebound effective August 21, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had onset during service with continuity of symptoms to the present. The decision does not address any other conditions or issues.

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

The Veteran's appeals for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right pelvic bone disorder, and neck disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the August 2014 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU before January 03, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, beginning December 01, 2019, the Veteran's TDIU claim was granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service and exposure to CARC.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's tinnitus is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the April 2016 VA examiner to address whether it is due to military noise exposure.,The Veteran's neck disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,The Veteran's hip disability, including a secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, including as due to exposure to CARC, is being remanded for an addendum opinion from the May 2016 VA examiner to address whether it is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent from February 29, 2012. The RO denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 29, 2012, or based on a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied her claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Board will consider whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service, particularly given his reported noise exposure as a cannon crewmember.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability from January 10, 2019. However, the RO failed to properly effectuate this decision and the case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made.