Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily the residuals of prostate cancer, have rendered him unemployable as of October 2, 2023. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for anxiety/depression, bradycardia, hearing loss, left knee disability, low back disability, migraines, right ankle disability, and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ should provide an examination for the Appellant's bradycardia.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 (Notice of Disagreement) was not timely filed. The right knee strain claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and onychomycosis. The Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure and/or active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied.,Service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and a bilateral lower leg condition were also denied. The hypertension and bilateral lower leg condition claims are remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current diagnosis of tinnitus had its onset during his military service and is related to the conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome is dismissed as it constitutes an impermissible concurrent election.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed because the January 2022 decision did not address this issue and there was no appealable rating decision within one year of the September 2022 VA Form 10182.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for migraine headaches is granted, with the effective date set at May 13, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's reported symptoms are not supported by medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure to address the duties of the VLJ in relation to the May 2022 hearing, and to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for migraine headaches, but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, neck condition, back condition, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of symptom onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for additional dependency benefits for her biological child, S.E., was granted effective from February 1, 2023. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date due to lack of a prior intent to file or claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as it was not shown to have been worsened during service.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied because the condition is not due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether he is entitled to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his entitlement to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral cataracts with dry eye syndrome of both lacrimal glands and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding potential exposure to toxic environmental agents (TERAs) during service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA examination or opinion addressing the Veteran's TERAs.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeal seeking earlier effective dates for tinnitus, right wrist chronic sprain with limited range of motion, and OSA is dismissed.,The appeals seeking increased ratings for tinnitus, right wrist chronic sprain with limited range of motion, and OSA are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The Board considered evidence of noise exposure during service and concluded that both conditions began during active duty.