Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's OSA, tinnitus, GERD, and IBS were all found to have onset during service. Service connection was granted for these conditions.,Fatigue disability, right knee disability, and liver disability are still under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for medical expense payment or reimbursement for non-VA medical services on November 3, 2018 was granted as the episode of care met the criteria for a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TB are denied. The right knee disability claim is remanded.,For tinnitus, the evidence does not establish a current disability or relate it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have continued since, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the failure to schedule the Veteran for examinations related to his back condition and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on evidence showing the Veteran was exposed to loud noises during her military service and diagnosed with tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of tinnitus as there was a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in relying on an inadequate VA examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding that his tinnitus had its onset during service and has been continuous since. The appeal was based on new and relevant evidence presented by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), RLE peripheral neuropathy, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RUE peripheral neuropathy, and LUE peripheral neuropathy due to new and relevant evidence received since the July 2019 rating decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 11, 2020, and his TDIU claim were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment or sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected ankle arthritis. His tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since December 22, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied because he did not meet the requirements of being permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is only 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic epididymitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosis or treatment for these conditions during his active duty.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. However, his peripheral neuropathy disabilities affect a single body system and raise the possibility of unemployability due to service-connected conditions. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.