Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately reflect the Veteran's disability picture, and there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual factors warranting an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings meet the minimum requirements for consideration of a TDIU, and her service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was present during service and is currently present, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back condition, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy due to procedural errors. The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin condition other than tinea pedis, tinnitus, left groin strain, right hip condition, and right knee condition are all denied as there is no evidence of the claimed conditions during or after service.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions. The claims for tinnitus, left groin strain, and right hip condition were remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder with drug abuse, left knee disability, right knee disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claim for gout is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

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 Board also denied service connection for kidney stone operation residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's statements regarding the onset of tinnitus in service are credible and consistent with other evidence of record. The Board also found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, leading to a favorable decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of hearing loss due to a lack of clarity in the December 2021 VA treatment record regarding whether word recognition scores were calculated using the Maryland CNC criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her active duty service, including combat noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury precluding effective operation of an automobile, ALS, or ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Therefore, the Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance to purchase a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinion regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service. The issues are considered intertwined as a decision on one could impact the other.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered to have started during his military service and has continued since then.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure, but the Board finds that this evidence does not raise a reasonable doubt and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential errors in pre-decisional duty to assist.