Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating prior to August 26, 2021 due to his employment at a liquor store.

The Veteran's tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted service connection. Tinnitus is considered a 'chronic disease' due to in-service noise exposure, while obstructive sleep apnea is not a chronic disease. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding both conditions, granting service connection on a direct basis.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied due to a lack of current evidence, while the claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there were no audiometric results showing impairment beyond 20 percent.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 24, 2013 for the award of TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision also addresses whether earlier effective dates should have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his active service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The effective date for the grants was set at July 26, 2018.,The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error involving private medical records and workers' compensation records. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records before considering the merits of the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of March 10, 2022 for service connection awards of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, which was an acute myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his right foot disability claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headaches, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is remanded due to the lack of evidence meeting VA compensation criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee and left knee conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back issues, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2017, to January 14, 2020. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on these disabilities.

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

Service connection for deviated septum, hemorrhoids, and tinnitus is denied. Service connection for bilateral shin scars, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee condition, right knee condition, and back injury is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus must be denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The effective date of service connection for tinnitus cannot be earlier than March 31, 2020.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD. Service connection is denied for a lower back condition and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The current evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal for VA home loan guaranty benefits was denied because his service did not meet the minimum duration requirement, and he did not qualify for an exception to this rule due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's current disabilities are conceded, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a gastrointestinal disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied as he was already in receipt of the earliest available effective date.