Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active duty service and is related to such, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU claim for the period from February 13, 2018, to October 17, 2018.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and a rating of 10 percent from December 1, 2020. For his low back disability, he receives a 20 percent rating effective from December 1, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus was denied as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to active service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder and depression, was denied due to lack of evidence showing the disorders began during or were related to service. The earliest reported onset was many years after discharge.,The Veteran's right knee disability was denied as there was no diagnosis in service or post-service that could be linked to active duty. No current disability was found by VA examinations.,Similarly, the left knee disability was denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition and no link to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure.,An acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been denied. Service connection for ethmoid sinusitis is granted with a rating of 30 percent disabling. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for a left knee condition due to conflicting evidence regarding its onset and relationship to active duty.,Veteran contends her left knee condition began during service, but post-service records show she underwent surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As such, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported noise exposure during military service and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The evidence did not show a current disability or link to service.,Tinnitus was granted as it is at least as likely as not related to military acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of prison medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide releases and VA will attempt to obtain relevant treatment records from his current correctional facility.

The Veteran's right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and low back condition with radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,Service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular condition is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are granted service connection. The right foot disability, left foot disability, and allergic rhinitis claims are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's headache disability was caused by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and has been present continuously since then, meeting all elements of Shedden v. Principi (381 F.3d 1163).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities and a rating increase, as additional VA clinical documentation was recently added to the record.