Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, TMJ, and various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions are also denied.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities has been denied as he is currently only receiving a compensable disability rating (for tinnitus) and the issue is moot.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to in-service noise exposure. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of current disability evidence, failure to report for VA examinations without good cause, and insufficient medical opinion regarding etiology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for recurrent tinnitus, a uterus disability, and a total hysterectomy. The claims are being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of a timely substantive appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but the hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of various conditions, including left ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left arm condition, episodes of visual loss (floaters), arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, headaches, and nerve damage is granted. The AOJ should arrange for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being reviewed again as they may be related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of the claimed conditions, and the Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in September 2020, expressing satisfaction with the current ratings.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for tinnitus, right hearing loss, and diabetes need further development due to incomplete medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, prostate disease, kidney disability, and food allergies. The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective February 11, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these matters.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset of symptoms and their relation to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting findings in a VA medical opinion based on an Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report.