Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of VA examination, as well as missing service records. The Veteran's noise exposure during service is conceded.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development and an updated opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his active military service due to noise exposure during his time as a tactical pilot.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to all service connection claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and migraine headaches are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, lower back condition, and right foot condition is also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating prior to January 19, 2022 is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy/radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between in-service noise exposure and delayed-onset tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service GERD symptomatology and no competent medical opinion linking the condition to service.,The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential intercurrent causes not related to service. The Veteran's noise exposure during service may be considered, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine if current hearing loss or tinnitus is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the withholding of VA disability compensation benefits for 31 training days in FY 2014 was proper, based on the documentation provided by the Veteran and his unit commander.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it is related to military noise exposure. The Veteran's assertions of ringing in his ears since service are considered credible and supportive of a nexus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 6, 2017 to April 3, 2017. The appeal for TDIU from April 3, 2017 is denied as moot by the 100% combined schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in a March 2010 rating decision. The claim for an acquired mental health disorder was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Board finds that a more thorough examination is required to determine if there is a link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 23, 2013 is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.