Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded the issue of assigning an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

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 are related to service. The Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure have been considered, with a private medical opinion supporting a relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left and right foot disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal. The Board granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there were pre-decisional errors in obtaining an adequate VA examination. The appellant's representative requested additional evidence to support his claim, including a new medical opinion.

The Board found that the withholding of VA compensation benefits for 139 days of drill pay in FY 2016 was proper based on the Veteran's total compensation rate at the end of FY 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his statements as to the onset of his tinnitus are credible and sufficient to establish a nexus between his tinnitus and noise exposure during service. The Board also found that the evidence supports the grant of readjudication of the claim.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for a VA opinion regarding whether his current migraines are caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, hypertension, or PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD, TMJ, tinnitus, and migraines. The earliest effective date assigned was May 30, 2016, for PTSD, TMJ, and tinnitus, and February 16, 2017, for migraines.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 30, 2022, for the grant of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities during this period.

The Veteran's claim for persistent depressive disorder is dismissed as the appeal is moot due to a full grant of service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for epididymitis with ejaculatory duct obstruction is denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions and an unclear record regarding the onset of the condition.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance since September 21, 2022 due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation prior to September 21, 2022 was denied as there is no evidence of need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected because it started in service and has been recurrent since then.

The Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has been chronic since then. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus based on the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating effective June 13, 2014.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities since June 13, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not show it began during or within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 14, 2016.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of January 29, 2018.