Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the combined disability rating and his inability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened on April 13, 2015, and effective as of that date, he was granted service connection for PTSD, TBI, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of fracture of tooth #10.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and remanded his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance is also being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and heart murmur claims are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service, and his heart murmur is related to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The issues of service connection for chronic allergies and chronic upper respiratory issues are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 50% rating effective February 9, 2023. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, effective July 15, 2011.

Service connection for tinnitus, prostate cancer, and hypertension is granted. The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in service. Service connection for other conditions is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain relevant VA medical treatment records from 2017 to the present, including those from George E. Wahlen VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support reopening of his hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), right hand/finger disability, left hand/finger disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran should be scheduled for a DRO hearing due to her request, and the appeal is being remanded accordingly.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The issues of service connection for skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, and liver condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of noise exposure during service, which is consistent with his reported symptoms of ringing in his ears since service.,Service connection was also granted for testicular cancer, as the evidence supported a link to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board considered conflicting opinions but ultimately found the private medical opinions more probative.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate claims are granted effective from February 28, 2018. The Board also found that a separate thoracolumbar spine disorder is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as the claim had been fully granted in a November 2023 rating decision. The appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss were remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sinusitis, tinnitus, voiding dysfunction, right foot hammertoes, and left foot hammertoes due to additional VA treatment records being added to the case file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused functional impairment that prevents him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, and TDIU is granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The case is remanded to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and verify stressors. Another examination is needed to assess hearing loss and tinnitus.