Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is now rated at 70 percent effective May 27, 2021.,Service connection for residuals of fracture second vertebra, C2, cervical spine (neck) has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims as they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete service records and need for new medical opinions. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues of pes planus and left ankle disability are still pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination, lack of consideration of service treatment records, and in-service noise exposure. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 1, 2007 to January 10, 2012 for the purposes of accrued benefits. The claim for TDIU prior to August 30, 2005 on an extraschedular basis was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, Meniere's disease, sinusitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus. The VA examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding her alleged incidents during service and her lack of post-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gout (to include as secondary to the service-connected bilateral hallux valgus) due to unclear medical findings and potential interplay with TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tinnitus, which he contends was incurred in or caused by military noise exposure during basic training. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and grants service connection for tinnitus.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for a TBI and associated memory loss. The claims are remanded as there is no current VA examination to determine whether he has a currently-diagnosed TBI and any associated residuals, such as memory loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, left ankle disability, scars (left ankle), and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,While the Veteran reported symptoms of each condition since service, the medical records do not support a nexus between his current diagnoses and service.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and tinnitus. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's surgical scars of the left knee are not manifest by an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater and do not result in any disabling effects.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, other than persistent somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, is secondary to his service-connected residuals, left knee strain. The issue has been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as secondary to hearing loss. The decision is based on inadequate nexus opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, and headaches are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,An effective date prior to March 9, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service, and he is granted service connection for these conditions.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between the condition and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board found no evidence of a skin disability related to service, and denied the claim for service connection.,There is insufficient credible evidence to establish a bilateral eye disability during or after service. The Veteran's own statements were not supported by medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a stomach condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.