Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the service connection for headaches and requires an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and persistent depressive disorder with major depressive disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has remanded the claims for further action, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 10, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure and MST, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, granting an initial disability rating. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for fatigue was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and anemia, with a rating of 10 percent for anemia. An earlier effective date of June 20, 2016, was granted for the grant of service connection for anemia. TDIU was granted from September 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are caused by his service-connected conditions, and the claim for a compensable rating for a right knee scar is dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for an assessment of his employability in light of service-connected disabilities prior to March 18, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and hearing loss due to missing intent to file forms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 2, 2008. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his disabilities prevent him from participating in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and PTSD are denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 2, 2017 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU from January 25, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's daily, intermittent tinnitus in both ears began during service and has continued since then. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.