Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The claims for service connection for tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been reopened. The claim for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since separation are credible. The decision is based on direct service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is at least as likely as not attributable to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for apraxia due to it being a symptom of an already service-connected condition (traumatic brain injury).

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not present valid claims for any of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Meniere's disease, increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus, and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus is granted, with the effective date set at January 12, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis related to service.,Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is in approximate balance, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI residuals, PTSD, migraines, and tinnitus due to the character of discharge issue. The appellant's military service is being reviewed for a possible upgrade in his character of discharge from other than honorable conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus in January 2009, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing a disability. The Veteran's claim was reopened for tinnitus but not for hearing loss.,For paraplegia, the Board found no evidence of its relationship to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the causes of the Veteran's COPD, hepatitis C virus, and skin rash. The issues related to tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a skin rash are denied as they did not manifest within one year of service separation or were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The evaluation for his right thumb fracture with degenerative arthritis remains at 10 percent, but the evaluation for his right fifth metatarsal fracture with degenerative arthritis has been increased to 30 percent from March 25, 2022 onwards. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Both conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including considering his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, right arm disability, and tinnitus due to inadequate notice provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability evaluations have been denied. Additional development is required to address the issues of right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, sleep apnea, athlete's foot (ringworm), tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.