Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 16, 2009, for the assignment of a 10 percent initial evaluation for service-connected posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle is denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of October 15, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service. The current evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use assistive devices and maintain independent mobility.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's back, psychiatric disabilities, hip, shoulder, knee, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to hearing loss, tinnitus, skin conditions, diabetes mellitus type 2, right eye blindness, hypertension, cancer of the jaw, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The issues are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate VA examination and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, resulting in a grant of SMC based on A&A. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on being housebound is moot due to the greater monetary benefit provided by SMC at the A&A rate.

The Board has found errors in the original decision and has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disability, and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and hypertension have not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus was established and there is credible evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for temporomandibular disorder, claimed as a jaw condition, is denied because the Veteran does not have a compensable disability that has resulted from his bruxism.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep impairment as secondary to tinnitus due to the duty to assist.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 18, 2017 for service connection to be established for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss. These conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran first experienced ringing in his ears during active service and continues to have it since. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of evidence meeting VA's criteria for a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed to be related to service. The case will need to be reviewed with additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been readjudicated due to new and relevant evidence received.,Service connection has been granted for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), and an acquired psychiatric disorder as due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a low back disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding SSA records and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to potential missing evidence and need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.