Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, glaucoma, a back disability, diabetes, and OSA have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) and right shoulder disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches has been denied.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection is being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,For tinnitus, a higher rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for a psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as there is no established service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating of sinusitis is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to her ITF, and thus, she is not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding service connection. The Veteran must be presumed sound at enlistment, and further examination is needed.

The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are established, with the latter linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are credible and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and right knee degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to conflicting assertions regarding whether the Veteran requires more time to submit a VA Form 21-8940 and whether it is required at all. Further, a retrospective VA opinion must be obtained that provides an analysis of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability since June 2000.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has denied service connection for Lyme disease and remanded the issues of service connection for an ear disability (claimed as popped ear drum) and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions from a qualified medical examiner regarding the etiology of the claimed tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities have been granted. The service connection is established based on direct evidence of a current disability, in-service exposure to noise, and continuity of symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea, including whether it is secondary to tinnitus. The Veteran's representative provided an additional private opinion in April 2023 asserting that service connection should be granted based on VAOPGCPREC No. 6-2003, which addresses whether service connection should be established for a tobacco-related disability or death on the basis that the disability or death was secondary to a service-connected mental disability that caused the veteran to use tobacco products. However, the Board finds it more appropriate to address this contention with consideration of obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of relevant service treatment records and the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to its presumptive nature based on exposure to noise during combat.,There is no current diagnosis of a lower back disability, and the evidence does not support a finding that any such condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records, requiring a new VA examination.