Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus on an aggravation basis. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of acoustic trauma during Air National Guard service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 13, 2015 for the award of SMC based on aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's need for regular aid and assistance was established from this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service.,The Board also remanded the issues regarding higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities and for left knee scars.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at a maximum of 10 percent under the schedular criteria, and there are no exceptional circumstances that would warrant an extraschedular rating. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms were adequately contemplated by the current rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's vertigo, seizure disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability (lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and spondylosis with radiculopathy), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral eye disability, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic memory loss disability, chronic headache disability, major depressive disorder, right foot disability, right knee disability, arthritis, left foot disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability are not supported by evidence of record.,The Veteran's service connection claims for vertigo, seizure disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability (lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and spondylosis with radiculopathy), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, bilateral eye disability, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic memory loss disability, chronic headache disability, major depressive disorder, right foot disability, right knee disability, arthritis, left foot disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between tinnitus and service-connected hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Effective January 10, 2021, he is granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for left perforated eardrum disability and tinnitus, finding no in-service injury or disease that would support the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and migraine headache disability, as well as TDIU, are being remanded due to outstanding records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disabilities need further development to obtain missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,New evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, but further examination is needed.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss or skin disabilities related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The cases for bilateral tinea pedis, left hip condition, and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded to determine the nature of any left lower extremity neurological disability.

The appeal is granted to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back condition. The earlier effective date for tinnitus remains denied as no new evidence was submitted within one year after service separation.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from April 24, 2009 to February 11, 2013, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during this period.