Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of migraine headaches as secondary to tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot issue a decision as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 30, 2021 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claim was filed after a previous denial in July 2015 and within one year of that decision.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hepatic disease, hypertension, kidney disease, low testosterone, pulmonary embolism, sleep apnea, supraventricular tachycardia, and syncope to correct a duty to assist error in failing to obtain adequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability manifested during service and has been continuous since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the VA to secure his complete VA treatment records, which may affect the effective date and ratings for bronchial asthma, tinnitus, hearing loss, and status post varicocelectomy.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his active military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus, finding that April 6, 2021, is the earliest possible effective date.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. The Board found that the most probative evidence does not support these claims.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinion and consideration of new evidence.

The Board dismissed the duplicative appeals for evaluation and service connection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with mycotic lung disease, to include emphysema; obstructive sleep apnea; posttraumatic stress disorder; chronic kidney disease; and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for a new opinion on aggravation of preexisting disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis, based on presumptive service connection for exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current tinnitus and his in-service noise exposure, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of at least sedentary work.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for hypertension and tinnitus, as there was no evidence of service connection prior to November 1, 2021, and the maximum schedular ratings were already in effect.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability for VA purposes and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between in-service noise exposure and either condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to uncertainty regarding his employment status during the period on appeal. The Board needs more information about his work history and earnings.