Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.,An initial disability rating of 10 percent for left knee strain (claimed as left knee pain) is granted, based on painful noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to his current combined rating of 60 percent, which does not include any permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without assistive devices or loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as they do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus started during active service, continued to the present, and is etiologically related to his time in active service. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 28, 2015 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The TDIU was awarded due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The DEA eligibility is also granted as of September 28, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure. The AOJ will need to obtain a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as he has not had a single disability rated at 60 percent disabling, or a disability rated at least 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for sinus headaches, allergic rhinitis, rubella, gastroenteritis (claimed as abdominal pain, acid reflux and GERD), and vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep disturbances) and a separate compensable evaluation for sleep impairment associated with service-connected tinnitus due to lack of clarity in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, with some issues being remanded.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen previously denied claims.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 27, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his period of active service and have continued since then. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation or secondary service connection, and that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for allergic rhinitis and appendectomy residuals.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbosacral strain are granted service connection, while his PTSD with cannabis abuse remains at a 70% rating. The decision also grants the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, GERD as secondary to PTSD, and OSA as secondary to PTSD. The evidence shows current disabilities of these conditions and a link between them and service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to procedural issues and lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.