Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but his claim for a mouth condition (TMD) was denied.,New evidence submitted since the previous denial allowed the reopening of the tinnitus claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence for the Veteran's claims of right shoulder, left knee, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's migraines are found to be aggravated by service, and she is granted service connection for them. A 10 percent rating for tinnitus is granted. The lumbosacral strain claim is remanded due to increased symptoms not addressed in the previous examination. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD) and hearing loss are also remanded as new evidence or clarification of medical opinions may be needed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to unresolved issues with her service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and valvular heart disease as they have been granted in a December 2023 rating decision. The case is remanded for further analysis on the claims of bifascicular block, tinnitus, and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess all of the Veteran's disabilities, including his substance abuse disorders and their impact on his ability to work. The examiner is asked to determine whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorders are due to willful misconduct or treatment for other conditions.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus, and the Board grants secondary service connection for a headache disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 7, 2017 due to insufficient evidence of his employment and inconsistent statements about his earnings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background prior to March 30, 2018, and from October 1, 2019. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence being added to his claims file after the February 2020 SOC. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded this case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs an addendum opinion from an otolaryngologist regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, its relation to service, and whether it is related to or aggravated by tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 18, 2015, for a grant of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the percentage requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for several issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee strain, PTSD, and right shoulder subacromial bursitis with labral tear. Additionally, the effective dates for certain conditions are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claustrophobia and insomnia disorder have been granted service connection, as well as his PTSD, MDD, phobic anxiety disorder, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia. His tinnitus has also been granted service connection.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the lack of a compensable degree of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding reasonable doubt in favor of a nexus to service due to exposure to noise during deployment.,For his PTSD and alcohol use disorder, the Veteran's current evaluation of 50 percent is denied. The Board found that while symptoms are present, they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability due to concerns about the qualifications of the VA examiner who conducted the October 2023 examination.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period between February 21, 2013, to May 15, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period from May 16, 2014, to August 31, 2020. The Veteran's combined rating at this time did not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right foot condition (hallux valgus), left foot condition (hallux valgus), left knee condition/joint arthritis, and right knee condition/joint arthritis. The Veteran's conditions are found to be directly related to her active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran a TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus due to incomplete records from VA treatment centers. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records and readjudicate the cases.