Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his gastritis, somatic syndrome disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee internal derangement (flexion), left knee lateral instability, and tinnitus disabilities. The Veteran also needs clarification on the nature of his claimed balance disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of her medical records.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection and is rated at the minimum level (10%).,An initial rating of 30% for PTSD with other specified anxiety disorder has been granted, subject to criteria governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the Veteran has a diagnosed cervical spine condition, back condition, and bilateral knee conditions that are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The Veteran's headaches are also found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss and hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD, migraines, back disability (lumbosacral and thoracic spine), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are all rated at their maximum levels. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is dismissed.

The Board has determined that effective dates earlier than March 5, 2012 for tinnitus and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are not warranted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's vertigo is aggravated by his service-connected cardiac disorders and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding this matter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current condition is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a forehead scar, but the Board finds that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether this disability is related to service.,Service connection has also been granted for migraines. The Board notes that the Veteran's claim was originally denied in 2010 due to lack of medical evidence linking his headaches to service. However, a formal application to reopen and new claims were submitted within one year of an Intent to File received on June 9, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD, low back disability, right and left ankle conditions, pes planus, tinnitus, IBS, and tendonitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since his separation from active duty in May 2016. The Board has granted TDIU effective May 15, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder bursitis, and right shoulder bursitis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle sprain, tinnitus, meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis of the left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The Board has remanded the remaining issues including rating increases and TDIU determination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, migraines, and back disability have been reopened. The claim for tinnitus has been granted as it is attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's ringing in his ears began during active duty and is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate January 2023 VA examination and February 2023 addendum medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being referred for further development, including obtaining an additional medical opinion that accounts for the April 2021 audiogram results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TMJ dysfunction, MDD, and tinnitus have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.