Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records, schedule a VA examination, and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service or his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus manifested during active service and is granted. The hearing loss issue remains on appeal as remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma and the condition manifested within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of mononucleosis, pericarditis, a respiratory disorder, hearing loss in the right ear, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,There are no indications of any current diagnoses or treatment records that support the Veteran's assertions of having these conditions during service. The VA examinations did not find any current disabilities for each condition.,The Board found that the threshold element (current disability) has not been met, thus denying all claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, anxiety, and depressed mood are granted. His OSA is rated at the maximum allowable rating of 50 percent. The right ankle sprain and TBI residuals as of April 18, 2019, each receive a 50 percent rating.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for monthly compensation benefits associated with the grants of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as she is not an accrued beneficiary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, major depressive disorder, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with thoracic scoliosis, hemorrhoids, left knee strain, tinnitus, painful left foot scar, degenerative joint disease of the left foot with hallux valgus, Crohn's disease status post colectomy, and a right leg condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and he does not have a compensable initial rating for his tinea pedis. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and spider bite reoccurring poison.,The Veteran reported being admitted to the hospital at Ft. Stewart, Georgia for what was thought to be a spider bite on his finger during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a June 2020 audiological evaluation report and an article on auditory thresholds among military musicians. The Veteran must provide competent and credible evidence explaining why his hearing loss and tinnitus are due to in-service noise exposure rather than pre- or post-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, anxiety and depression, and PTSD due to new evidence received since the last final rating decisions. The claims are being reopened as there is now sufficient evidence to suggest a current disability may be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of June 28, 2006. The motion to revise the December 2006 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, but service connection for right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability (secondary to right shoulder) are denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service, while his right shoulder disability was not related to service. The left shoulder disability is also not linked to service.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding court records, military personnel records, service treatment records (STR), and private treatment medical records. Additionally, the Veteran should receive VA examinations for his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a ganglion scar, sarcoidosis, and headaches, precluded him from securing substantially gainful employment prior to October 11, 2016. As such, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance, with the Board finding that this is due to her disabilities rather than solely to her PTSD.