Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle disability, which he contends is due to an injury sustained during his military service. The Board finds that this issue requires further development and remands the case.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's costochondritis is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that any service-connected disability required regular assistance from another person.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for tinnitus due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for a right foot disorder, left foot disorder, insomnia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are as likely as not related to his military service due to noise exposure during his time in the United States Navy.

The Veteran's appeals regarding right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active-duty service and the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board denied extraschedular ratings for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability, and TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of tinnitus during service and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability (trochanteric pain syndrome), cervical spine disability, right wrist disability, and left and right ankle sprains are all granted service connection.,There is no effective date assigned for any of the conditions as they were found to be related to service.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease is granted a 30 percent rating effective March 26, 2022.,A compensable rating for his dry eye syndrome is granted. The Veteran has been rated under DC 6018, which pertains to active chronic conjunctivitis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically questioning the validity of the VA examiner's opinions based on inaccurate facts.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension and carotid artery disability are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded the issue of an initial disability rating for his right knee meniscal tear residuals.

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

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as previous opinions were deemed inadequate.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the claim was granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss secondary to PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence showing it is proximately caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service. For the issue of bilateral hearing loss, the case is remanded as a VA examination has not considered the Veteran's November 2021 hearing testimony.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is linked to her active duty service. The evidence shows a current diagnosis and in-service noise exposure, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.