Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that there are incomplete service treatment records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, these issues are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been rated based on the schedular criteria, with no higher rating available.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for right ear hearing loss due to exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for history of kidney stones, voiding dysfunction (bladder obstruction), edema fluid in legs, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence establishing a direct relationship between these conditions and active service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is not relevant as none of the claimed disabilities are associated with such presumptive diseases.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under section 1318 were also not met.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from March 11, 2021. He also received a TDIU rating effective from the date of his claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for lower back injury residuals, with a grant of service connection in this case.,The claims for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive mood, depression, anxiety) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's vertigo condition.

Service connection granted for acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder) and depression.,Effective dates denied for right hamstring muscle condition, right calf muscle injury, bilateral hearing loss, left calf muscle injury, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for multiple sebaceous and pilonidal cysts, lower back disability (including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine), myalgia (including as secondary to a lower back disability), and bilateral hearing loss due to additional evidence being developed by VA. The PACT Act may also require further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is causally related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by private physicians who concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were caused or aggravated by noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for DIC benefits based on service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected back and left hip disabilities.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it had its onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary for the Veteran's back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, neck disability, ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disability due to potential service connection issues.

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.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee condition(s), left knee condition(s), and neck instability. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not render him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2016. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board denied his request for a TDIU due to his service-connected conditions and psychiatric symptoms preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.