Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as there was an error in the duty to assist and AOJ errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the November 2019 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it began during service and has continued since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to a grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, left shoulder disability, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right lower extremity disability was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were denied due to the dishonorable discharge from military service.,An effective date earlier than September 26, 2013 for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay reports of in-service onset are at least in equipoise with the VA examiners' opinions. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI was denied because it was not filed within two years of the September 2006 grant of service connection for prostate cancer, which rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the claimant and failure to timely file a VA Form 10182, with good cause shown for the latter.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but has remanded for further examination regarding his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and vertigo were granted with effective dates of May 11, 2010. A 100% evaluation was assigned for Meniere's syndrome with vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss from that date. Separate evaluations for vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss were discontinued.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity idiopathic neuropathy, have resulted in the effective loss of use of both feet. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for eligibility to financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the latter being secondary to the former. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have led to the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as it is a lesser benefit than SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise. The decision resolves the benefit of doubt in favor of the appellant.