Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the right knee rating claim. The PTSD and left knee disorder claims are granted, but the right shoulder injury claim is denied. The Board has reopened the service connection claims for PTSD and left knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of left foot disorder and left ankle disorder, as well as migraine headaches, are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new development required by a court order.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, while his claim for a higher initial disability rating for the gunshot wound to the back of head is granted with a 10% evaluation. His claim for a separate disability rating for the neck scar is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board has referred the claim to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, finding that no formal or informal claim was filed prior to October 25, 2012. The decision also noted that any reference to tinnitus in a May 1975 letter did not constitute a valid claim as it did not identify the benefit sought.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the cases of herniated muscle in right calf and low back injury due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and tinnitus due to incomplete service personnel records. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant military service records, including those from the Army Reserve and South Carolina Army National Guard.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for metatarsalgia of the right 3rd toe with intractable plantar keratosis.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorders, PTSD with depression and anxiety, low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision on these issues is based on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus may be related to medications he received during his service, including an anti-malarial medication. The decision is remanded for further consideration of this theory.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of entrance examination in his file, which is necessary to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia, a depressive disorder, and/or anxiety disorder), headaches, left foot bunion, and right foot bunion are all granted service connection.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns raised in a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a cited medical article. The AOJ is required to review the claims based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and need for medical examinations. The issues include right knee, right ankle, left ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as not meeting VA criteria for a disability. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss remains under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends that her hearing loss and tinnitus are related to exposure to acoustic shock during active duty.