Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis for such.,Service connection for gum disease was denied because it does not constitute a compensable disability for VA compensation purposes.,Claims for total disability ratings due to hospital treatment or observation and convalescence have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the required periods of hospitalization or convalescence.,Spousal aid and attendance prior to October 22, 2018 was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's ex-spouse needed regular aid and attendance.,Service connection for peripheral vestibular disease (PVD) has been remanded due to a conclusory opinion from the VA examiner.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss have been remanded as the Veteran alleges worsening since his last examination in October 2017.,Claims for various ankle, elbow, hip, knee, and shoulder conditions have all been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the most persuasive evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the persuasive weight of the evidence is against a finding that current hearing loss or tinnitus are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tinnitus, residuals of TBI including mild neurocognitive disorder and headaches, and dizziness associated with TBI are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it had its onset during active service and is etiologically related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, low back disability, right hip disability, heart disability, and residuals of strokes are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability due to incomplete development of records. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's reduction from a 40 percent to a 20 percent rating for spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine was improper and has been restored.,An effective date of July 13, 2015, is granted for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy. Effective dates prior to August 11, 2015, are denied for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome and tinnitus.,The Veteran's initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 20 percent.,Initial ratings greater than 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection as secondary to his existing hearing loss. The back disability, bilateral leg disability, cataracts, and aching hair on the head are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Veteran did not have tinnitus during his time in service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), male infertility, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral knee disability are remanded due to insufficient examination reports that do not address all relevant symptoms and diagnoses.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and other conditions were denied in a final November 2005 rating decision. The claims were reopened based on new and material evidence submitted after March 31, 2015, but the effective date remains unchanged as it is not earlier than March 31, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues of secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anterior cruciate ligament right knee and left knee are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, migraine headaches as secondary to a service-connected mental health disability, heart condition (angina), and respiratory condition (obstructive airway disease).,The Veteran's claims for anterior cruciate ligament right knee and left knee remain denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection is not granted for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, or unspecified visual disorder.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a certificate of eligibility in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment due to permanent loss of use of his lower extremities from service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's failure to report an April 2022 audiology examination. The AOJ should consider whether there is other evidence indicating a current disability and attempt to ascertain if the examiner used the Maryland CNC word list.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable at any time during the appeal period. The Board denied his claim for TDIU as he has maintained substantially gainful employment despite his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.