Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus prior to May 3, 2021 due to a failure to address the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2009 rating decision.

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 Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was granted, as new and relevant evidence supports the assertion that her tinnitus began during service due to noise exposure. The Board found in favor of presumptive service connection based on chronicity.,Service connection for vaginal pain with intercourse, secondary to a service-connected transverse lower abdominal scar (residual of cesarean section), was granted as well. The Veteran's condition is considered a residual from her c-section and the associated physical damage.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service hazardous noise exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential incomplete medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to military noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity varicose vein conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's GERD is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate etiology opinion.,The Veteran's tinnitus is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate nexus opinion.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate secondary service connection etiology opinions.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted and the effective date is June 27, 2019. The claim is now moot as it has already been fully awarded.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 12, 2020 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied. The Board found that no portion of the increase in his service-connected disabilities occurred within one year prior to the date of his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service, despite the Veteran's reported noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable due to the need for continuous medication, but current blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine condition, bilateral foot condition, and residuals of a right eye injury are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further consideration, including a potential extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as the condition began during his military service and is related to noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back muscle condition, migraines as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support these claims.,There is no credible evidence of current disabilities or events in-service that could be associated with any of the claimed conditions.