Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board denied all service connection claims and the increased rating claim for myositis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began in-service and has persisted.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was legally erroneous due to a failure to consider new evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure and more likely due to natural aging. Service connection was granted for tinnitus, with the condition being present since service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing the current hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus, an earlier effective date for DEA Chapter 35 benefits and TDIU, and service connection for erectile dysfunction as they were not properly appealed.

The Board has decided to remand both claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to the need for further development. Specifically, a new VA examination is required to clarify the severity of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, and an addendum opinion on the etiology of his tinnitus is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began within one year of his separation from active duty and are presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and a neck disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service, while his neck disability may be related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his service-connected painful keloid chest scars, keloid chest scars, left elbow scar, right elbow scar, and tinnitus. The claims were found to have no legal merit due to the absence of formal or informal claims prior to January 23, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active service exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's MOS as a bridge crewmember exposed him to noise, but his lay statements about when his tinnitus started are inconsistent with his service treatment records.

The Board has found that the decision on service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in the December 2020 VA medical opinion, which did not consider the Veteran's conceded exposure to hazardous noise during service. The claim will be returned to the RO for further review after obtaining an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and a psychiatric disability have been fully granted since the initial claim, so there is no live case or controversy left to address. The appeal has therefore been dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to exposure during service and continuous symptoms since then, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the claim for left ear hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between his military service and his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's military occupational specialty (aircraft mechanic) which carries a high probability of hazardous noise exposure, as well as his lay statements about loud noise while working on aircraft. The claims are being returned to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, left wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disorder due to new and relevant evidence submitted since the March 2019 rating decision.,The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder but has not determined whether there is a current disability.