Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for lower back pain as it was moot due to a full grant of benefits. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and low back condition are granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hypertension, testicle condition, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) due to exposure to environmental hazards during service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, diverticulitis, deep vein thrombosis as secondary to diverticulitis, pulmonary embolism as secondary to diverticulitis, headaches, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) remains under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on and after August 1, 2022, due to his service-connected disabilities including left knee total replacement, major depressive disorder, right and left hip strains, tinnitus, and other related conditions. The decision is based on the combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.,Right ear hearing loss did not have its onset in active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Tinnitus did not have its onset in active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied. The Board found that the earliest date available for each award is September 26, 2018, the date on which he filed his initial claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability have been granted. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 26, 2015 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities causing occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, atrial fibrillation, bilateral plantar fasciitis, PTSD, and hypothyroidism have all been denied.,There is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions in the record.

The Veteran's right hip disorder, genitourinary disorder other than erectile dysfunction (epididymo-orchitis), nasal disorder, and several musculoskeletal conditions are remanded for further development.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions is being remanded due to insufficient evidence linking them to service exposure or service-connected disabilities. Further examination and opinion may be necessary under recent changes in law related to toxic exposure claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus and it is related to his in-service noise exposure, thus meeting all elements of service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's claim is remanded as there was no audiometric testing provided by VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tremors and muscle twitches, left ear hearing loss, allergies, eustachian tube dysfunction (claimed as equilibrium), right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines are all denied.,Additional evidence is needed to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are linked to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements of in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a disability of the cervical spine is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his duties as a KC-135 refueling boom operator during his military service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, posttraumatic headaches, sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with neck sprain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.,The effective date for service connection of these conditions ranges from April 27, 2016 to September 20, 2017.

The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to June 22, 2016, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his peripheral neuropathy, right hand condition, left hand condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition are denied. The case is remanded for a hearing loss addendum.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), and a disability other than radiculopathy manifested by numbness of the left lower extremity as secondary to a service-connected disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations in July 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the latter being secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.