Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of Meniere's syndrome, with aural fullness, hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The effective date assigned was February 13, 2012.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim should be remanded for further examination and opinion. The issues of service connection for both tinnitus and hearing loss are within scope, but a VA examination is needed to address the theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right shoulder disability, a bilateral knee disability, and a right foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's reports of noise exposure during active duty are considered, but the current diagnoses do not align with conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to in-service noise exposure. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to military noise exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus was reported as having onset in 2016, after separation from service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether it is related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision grants the claim based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered to have started during his military service and has continued since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, and will consider evidence submitted after the May 2021 decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea disorder as secondary to his service-connected insomnia disorder, MDD with anxiety, migraine headaches, and tinnitus. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran's opioid medication taken for bilateral shoulder disorders may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service personnel and treatment records may be missing, leading to a remand for obtaining these records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to this lack of information.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for migraines secondary to tinnitus as the Veteran did not raise this claim during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

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 related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as new and relevant evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervicalgia, left hand condition, right hand condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination regarding the appellant's claimed conditions related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.