Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during training exercises and working around helicopters. His tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service as he reported experiencing ringing in his ears during service. His bipolar disorder is linked to a simulated helicopter crash incident during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are not related to his in-service noise exposure, despite his assertions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 8, 2017 due to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus. The Board found that the evidence is at least in balance as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from May 6, 2016 to July 1, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions were incurred during service due to acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is required to protect her from hazards or dangers incident to her daily environment. As a result, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria to establish a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his arterionephrosclerosis is denied. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and kidney cancer with a right nephrectomy are remanded, as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of chronic tinnitus in service or a nexus to military noise exposure. The Veteran's reports of onset during active service are not credible given his treatment records and complex medical history.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus is granted. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia, left knee; service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression with polysubstance abuse); service connection for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The Veteran is requested to provide a new medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a 30% disability rating for asthma, effective from October 8, 2013. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities (right and left) are also granted as service connected, with the right shoulder having chronic pain and the left shoulder having chronic pain. Service connection is also granted for residuals of a left ankle sprain. Tinnitus is also granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a right calf leg disability with loss of muscle and cramps, other than right calf cellulitis and abscess is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.