Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection claims related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a chronic disease and found in approximate balance with his credible statements of an in-service onset, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, and right and left back sacroiliitis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and chronic headaches.,Service connection was not established for the claimed conditions due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's petition to readjudicate claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a digestive/bowel disability, and the evidence did not support her claim that she has an acquired psychiatric disorder or right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ is required to consider these issues on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is granted, and his PTSD rating is maintained at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's testimony about its onset during service is credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The March 2016 rating decision assigned a 10% disability rating for thoracic kyphosis, but did not address the secondary service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, due to herbicide exposure on a facts-found basis, is granted.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and procedural errors. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to post-service occupational noise exposure, but the adequacy of the July 2017 and December 2020 VA medical opinions needs to be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is unable to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, prepare his own meals, and protect himself from daily hazards. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his military noise exposure and his current tinnitus symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart condition, DMII, nephropathy, prostate cancer, skin cancer, gallbladder condition, arthritis, and hypertension are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for hepatitis C and an earlier effective date for tinnitus, due to potential errors in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 21, 2013 for the award of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis and for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since at least May 21, 2013.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected mental health disabilities. The issue of SMC at the housebound rate is dismissed as moot.