Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was insufficient medical evidence to determine if he had current disabilities, and an in-person examination is needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's tinnitus claim. The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support a current diagnosis of tinnitus or its relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no legal basis to grant a higher schedular rating for tinnitus, as the maximum available rating is already assigned. For bilateral hearing loss, the evidence did not establish in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology sufficient to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by a VA physician (Dr. N.V.) who concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is service-connected due to prolonged exposure to high-intensity noises during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraines, and a left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is conceded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as substance abuse - alcohol; left knee disorder; and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU as of March 13, 2020 is dismissed because the claim was moot due to his already having a combined disability rating of 100% and receiving special monthly compensation.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to March 13, 2020 is denied. The evidence does not show that he became unemployable during this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, epididymitis, a left ankle disability, a lower back disability, a left hip disability, and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because it was not received within two years of the most recent grant of service connection, which occurred in October 2018. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria as per 38 U.S.C. § 1922(a).

The Board dismissed the appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a February 2024 Rating Decision, as there was no error of fact or law alleged.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for PFB is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no legal basis to grant a higher schedular rating for tinnitus or separate ratings for each ear, and there is no evidence of chronic hearing loss during service or within the presumptive period post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to procedural issues, but no specific effective date or rating is assigned.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. The results of an audiometric test performed in July 2019 are needed to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were granted due to the diseases being chronic conditions that may be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for vertigo was denied as there is no current diagnosis or persistent symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a higher rating for degenerative joint disease with facet arthropathy of lumbar spine. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, right shoulder impingement syndrome, TMJ disorder, and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.