Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure to noise, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension has been dismissed as the claim was granted in a November 2023 rating decision.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10% and no higher, based on current symptoms and VA regulations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering his work history and lay statements regarding his ability to perform as an electrician or support technician.

The Board has withdrawn the claims for service connection for seizures and a knee disability, as well as granted service connection for low back disability and left shoulder disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as it was already granted in an earlier decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus and vertigo with Eustachian tube dysfunction are currently rated together under Diagnostic Code 6260, which provides a maximum 10 percent rating for recurrent tinnitus. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for the Veteran's vertigo associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for left ventricular hypertrophy and a bilateral ear disability other than tinnitus (including otitis media) as these conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for the back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability is granted as these conditions are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to meet the eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected pension benefits, thus denying his claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus, the claim for this condition is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, right eye disability, and heart disability to obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating. The claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent is remanded as the SOC has not yet been issued.,All other claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective December 15, 2016, on a schedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The extraschedular TDIU claim between April 1, 2016, and December 15, 2016, is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and has persisted since then. The Board granted the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection under Chapter 17, Title 38, United States Code, for heart condition, irritable bowel syndrome, mental health conditions, sleep apnea (lung condition), and tinnitus. The VA is required to provide a VA medical examination due to potential exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing before the Board.,An earlier effective date of July 20, 2012, but no earlier, has been granted for service connection for CAD based on new evidence from in-service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine, bilateral foot, hearing loss, gastritis, GERD, sleep apnea, headaches, vision impairment, cervicalgia, knee disabilities, hip strains, and ankle strains.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a traumatic brain injury with residuals were denied. The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision and requires further consideration. The claims for service connection are being remanded for this purpose.