Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, effective June 17, 2024.

The Veteran's depressive disorder associated with tinnitus is rated at 70 percent from August 15, 2016, to present. The effective date for this rating is set as of August 26, 2016.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding missing private treatment records from 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back disability, and tinnitus have been granted service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. Left ear hearing loss is granted, but right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed before adjudicating their merits. The claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus remains remanded as new and material evidence was received.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hearing was normal at separation, but he reported noise exposure during service. His current hearing loss is not linked to service, and his tinnitus is not related to his hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, bilateral foot disability, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the proposed reduction of PTSD from 70 percent to 50 percent is dismissed. The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the evidence does not show a formal or informal claim filed before October 27, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee condition are related to service. However, due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding these conditions, the cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claim of service connection for colon cancer with metastasis due to conflicting DD214 records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including any potential aggravation by service-connected sarcoidosis or exposure to toxins during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in the aggregate render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to individual unemployability from November 1, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability according to VA standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right vestibular unilateral weakness, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.