Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lower lumbar, right shoulder, and tinnitus due to new evidence received in September 2021. The AOJ will reconsider these claims on their merits.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination, requiring a new examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral leg and foot swelling, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chipped upper front tooth due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is also requested to provide evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and a compensable rating of 10% from June 15, 2020. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) is denied. The Veteran receives a compensable rating of 10% for her headache condition since June 15, 2020. A compensable rating for sinusitis and right ring finger avulsion injury is not granted. The umbilical hernia condition is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus disability is related to her military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of an increased evaluation for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and duty-to-assist errors, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's tinnitus claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the VA examination opinions are inadequate and remands the case for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's tension headaches are related to service, due to service-connected tinnitus, or aggravated by it.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and is remanding the case for further development of records, including service treatment records, VA medical center records, and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a headache disability (claimed as migraine headaches), and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.,There is no current diagnosis or history of any of these conditions during or immediately following her military service.

The Veteran's current tinnitus was caused by his period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression), allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, neck disability, colostomy, diverticulosis, bilateral foot condition, heart disability, hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, back disability, colon polyps, prostate disability, and vertigo were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for Meniere's disease from August 19, 2021, and has also granted SMC based on housebound status from the same date. The appellant is now service-connected for multiple conditions including Meniere's disease, PTSD, urge incontinence, migraine headaches, tinnitus, and GERD.

The Veteran's surviving spouse filed a notice of disagreement regarding the effective date of VA benefits granted in November 2019, but lacks standing to do so as no appeal was made within one year of the decision and the Veteran had died prior to any potential appeal.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and his service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active duty is sufficient to cause acoustic trauma and her symptoms have been continuous since then. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to his withdrawal of the appeal.