Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on housebound status are granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and left hand injuries, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence does not demonstrate that it first began during service and is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and his right knee disability is due to aggravation of a pre-existing injury. Service connection for these conditions is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is established as they are found to be directly related to service. The Veteran's right knee disability is also granted as it was aggravated by in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to outstanding medical records, including those from private providers. The VA is also requested to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's tinnitus and chronic headaches have been granted service connection.,Service connection for memory loss, a neurological condition, diabetes, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, and unspecified osteoarthritis of multiple joints is remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further action due to a failure in the duty to assist.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to her military noise exposure.,Service connection for PTSD due to MST is denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria set forth in the DSM-5 for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a chronic lower back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a heart disability, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of an effective date prior to April 12, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current disabilities. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic low back strain is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current diagnosis of tinnitus is not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left foot disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection is granted for bilateral tinnitus, with no current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis or blepharitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to new evidence, but the claims are still denied.,Service connection is granted for IBS under presumptive criteria related to Persian Gulf War service. Service connection for GERD is denied as it does not qualify under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

Service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,An effective date earlier than March 2, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,There is no basis for an effective date prior to April 19, 2011 for the award of service connection for a right ankle disability.,As new and material evidence has been received, the service connection claim for a right knee condition is reopened. The issue will be remanded for further review.,A rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,An effective date higher than 10 percent for the right ankle disability is also remanded.,The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claims for thoracolumbar spine strain with sciatica, right wrist condition, PTSD, fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been granted. Service connection is being remanded for these conditions.

Service connection for tinnitus and back impairment is granted. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is reopened, but no new rating is assigned.,The Veteran's right elbow limitation of flexion and supination are rated at 40% from June 26, 2017 to August 21, 2018. Effective date for the 40% rating is granted as of June 26, 2017.,Service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted from April 9, 2018 onwards.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for issues of service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral leg disability, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further action.