Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU, DEA eligibility, and SMC based on housebound status due to lack of evidence showing entitlement arose prior to April 11, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's period of inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) where he sustained an injury in the line of duty qualifies him for basic eligibility for VA benefits, including service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all five claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal in June 2020.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right rib sprain, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and insomnia) are all granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral tinnitus disability and dismissed the other issues without prejudice.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's recreational hunting is noted as a potential contributing factor, but not addressed in detail.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence, including missing treatment records from the Appellant's period of active duty training. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they both relate to a common event on June 16, 1994.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for a right digit disability. The claims of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or their relationship to service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the former being presumed due to in-service noise exposure and the latter presumptively related to acoustic trauma during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's continuous post-service symptoms meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various disorders, including left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board has determined that these claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. Tinnitus was found to be related to service, while no current disability of right ear hearing loss was established.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus with vertigo due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ is required to obtain addendum opinions addressing theories of secondary service connection and obesity as intermediate steps.

The Board has remanded the cases for further consideration, including a referral to the Director of Compensation Service for TDIU and DEA benefits prior to April 24, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for an award of SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for various orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss from appellate status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.