Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate previous opinions and failure to address all relevant factors, including noise exposure from all periods of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in their favor. The Veteran is required to provide additional records, including service treatment records from his honorable period of service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and remanded for further evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an error in a previous decision. The case is now before the VA examiner for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused an inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 11, 2017. The Board found that the evidence showed he was unable to work due to his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active-duty service.,Service connection is also granted for OSA, with a remand required due to inadequate medical opinion addressing whether the condition was first diagnosed after service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal because the claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted by a September 2020 rating decision, effective August 8, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to left ear hearing loss. Bilateral hearing loss is considered established due to in-service noise exposure, while the tinnitus is linked to the Veteran's history of otosclerosis surgery following his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they need further medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The case is remanded for further development regarding increased disability ratings for tension headaches and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right-ear hearing loss have been withdrawn. The Veteran's IBS claim has been granted, as well as his tinnitus claim. His GERD claim is pending and will be remanded.,The Veteran's IBS was found to be service-connected due to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. His tinnitus was also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, with the opinion that it is less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran reported experiencing constant ringing in his ears since 1990 and provided credible statements supporting this claim.,The pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service as evidenced by worsening symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for tinnitus has been granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since April 17, 2018, based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to work in any substantially gainful capacity.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2017 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and IBS are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired vision (refractive error), neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status (SMC-HB) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran is service connected for PTSD rated at 100 percent, tinnitus rated at 10 percent, and noncompensable bilateral hearing loss. The Board requested that the AOJ schedule the Veteran for a housebound examination but no such examination has been conducted due to cancellation or inability of the Veteran to attend an in-person examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a neck disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but he was granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the presumption that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.