Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to military noise exposure during active-duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for heart disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The Board is instructing the AOJ to provide the Veteran with new VA examinations at his current address in Seattle, Washington.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound was denied due to lack of evidence showing he is in need of such assistance. The appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was also denied as there is no schedular rating for loss of use of a creative organ alone.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be due to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of tinnitus prior to the hearing scheduled by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of January 11, 2021.

The appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had onset in service and persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, neck disability, and back disability due to procedural errors in the VA examinations conducted in February 2022.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the September 2021 rating decision and has ordered further development to verify the appellant's alleged active duty Reserve service dates. The issues on appeal are now remanded for readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have BHL, his lumbar DDD is not manifested by ankylosis or forward flexion at 60 degrees or less, his right lower extremity radiculopathy does not meet criteria for a higher rating, his right hip strain does not meet criteria for a higher rating, and his tinnitus does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of January 12, 1994. The Board found that the July 13, 1994, Rating Decision denying service connection was not final due to a relevant outstanding military medical record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, back, neck, and right shoulder disorders. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's SMC was granted at intermediate rates for specific periods and maximum rate after August 23, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, High Blood Pressure, and Tinnitus. The rating for his unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective August 1, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain complete service personnel records and medical treatment records for INACDUTRA periods. A new opinion on etiology is needed for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a digestive disability, to include GERD. The appellant's exposure in Afghanistan and Kuwait qualifies as a TERA under the PACT Act.