Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the combined disability rating exceeded the maximum allowable under the amputation rule. The GERD claim was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

Service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted.,The appeal seeking service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been readjudicated due to new evidence received after the previous decisions.,Service connection has now been granted for both bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU, and there is no evidence to suggest he is unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and he receives a combined rating of 20 percent for his right knee strain and left knee osteoarthritis. The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is caused by in-service exposure to hazardous noise, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and an effective date of September 1, 2017, is assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's dental condition due to surgery in service is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for which compensation can be considered.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied because the evidence does not establish that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, and insomnia) is remanded as further examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that giving the benefit of doubt to the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuous tinnitus symptoms since service is sufficient evidence to establish a link between his military service and current tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his service, and the Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The appeal for increased disability ratings for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, left knee arthritis, and left knee instability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to her in-service exposure to harmful noise.,Service connection for the gall bladder condition was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability, and the condition did not manifest within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it had its onset within one year of separation from service.,Service connection for low back strain is denied due to lack of a nexus between the current condition and in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, PTSD, adjustment disorder, and a disorder manifested by memory loss are all denied due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.,However, the Veteran's service connection claim for these conditions is remanded as there are unresolved issues regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The rating for cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, has been denied as the evidence does not support an increased rating beyond 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the October 2020 rating decision. The issues are being returned to the AOJ for further development.