Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a somatic disability with symptoms of pain in the bilateral knees and back, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination and development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no credible evidence of exposure to noise during active duty and insufficient medical evidence linking current tinnitus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ear and left ear. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have been incurred during service. However, the VA audiological examinations did not show a current disability of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, feed himself, and perform daily activities. He is also not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that her current diagnosis of tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not have a causal nexus to service. The Board noted that there is no indication that the Veteran's tinnitus had an onset during service or within one year of discharge.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the proposal to reduce the rating for service-connected right-handed carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and painful scars of the hands were all denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back injury, scoliosis, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence received after the February 2022 rating decision. The VA examiner is requested to provide a supplemental opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus claim requires further examination and evaluation due to a failure to provide a VA medical examination in accordance with the requirements of McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further review of service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep disturbance, and depression are being remanded due to a failure to provide adequate VA examination for the claim of service connection for depression.,Service connection will be considered on a direct basis for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is not etiologically related to active service.,The Board concludes that, while the Veteran may experience symptoms of anxiety or depression, the evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that any acquired psychiatric disorder began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is therefore denied.,The Board concludes that the claims must be remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Review of the claims file does not confirm that the Veteran was stationed in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. In this regard, the Board believes that additional efforts to determine whether the Veteran had active duty service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War are needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, CFS, fibromyalgia, and migraines, which he argues are due to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). While the Veteran has consistently argued that he participated in TERA, this has not been verified by the RO. The Board finds it necessary to remand the Veteran's claims so that his potential TERA can be verified by the RO.,The Veteran seeks service connection for low back pain with intervertebral disc syndrome. He reports that he injured his back during a patrol in 2005 and contends that his current back disability is related to this injury. Remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's complete military personnel records to ascertain whether his 2005 back injury happened during a period of ADT or IDT.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, CFS, fibromyalgia, and migraines. He contends that his disabilities are related to toxic exposures during service in Operation Enduring Freedom. The Veteran's October 2002 DD-214 confirms that the Veteran served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after separation from active service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions existed prior to service.,The Veteran's left-hand disability and right-hand disability do not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no medical evidence of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, jaundice, left hip condition as secondary to a service-connected low back condition, and right hip condition as secondary to a service-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, left elbow conditions, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during service and is related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service noise exposure is sufficient to establish a nexus with his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and residuals of rib fracture. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,The right testicular torsion claim is remanded.