Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, which began during active service and continues to the present, is related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs further evaluation of the relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service.

The appeal for service connection of tinnitus was dismissed because the Veteran did not provide a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the April 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and rated as a separate condition.,For sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, the Veteran receives a 20 percent rating based on moderately severe incomplete paralysis. For sciatic pain of the right lower extremity, he receives a 40 percent rating for the same severity level.

The petition to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.,The petition to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and migraines are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or tinnitus as defined by VA regulations. Service connection was granted for left ear hearing loss based on continuous post-service symptoms.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 23, 2020 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are addressed in separate sections.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his acquired psychiatric disabilities are also granted as they began during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to his period of active service, while the denial of left ear hearing loss is based on the absence of a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection was dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a secondary basis. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is considered a symptom of the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for arthritis, bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and right foot fracture due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions. The AOJ will obtain missing private treatment records and VistA Imaging records, as well as arrange for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability, acne, pseudofolliculitis barbae, knee disabilities, hip disabilities, and sinusitis. The reasons for remand include the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of April 11, 2023.,The Veteran is now eligible for DEA benefits since April 11, 2023.,The Veteran is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from April 11, 2023.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.