Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as a matter of law. The October 1966 rating decision did not finally adjudicate the issue, and the February 2016 rating decision that granted service connection for tinnitus became final.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The effective date of July 6, 2018, for sleep apnea service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain was dismissed due to the failure to timely file a VA Form 10182 Decision Review Request.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology since separation from active duty.

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

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to an inadequate VA examination in December 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for depression, hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and tinnitus. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or within one year after active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 27, 2008. The Board has granted TDIU on both an extraschedular and schedular basis for the specified periods.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to August 15, 2022, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent. The effective date of this rating is not earlier than February 7, 2023.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, but the decision is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of adequate medical opinions. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeal regarding a higher rating for tinnitus at his Board hearing.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a compensable rating for hypertension as moot due to concurrent adjudication and granting of the rating. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unemployable. SMC for aid and attendance is also granted due to the Veteran's need for substantial assistance from his husband.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not show current hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected hypertension has been denied as his blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted effective September 9, 2019. An earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his appeal for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their relationship to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to military noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus.

Your claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, and the issue is now moot.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's psychiatric condition (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) and hypertension are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.