Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ankle and knee disabilities, low back disability, anxiety/depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, and headaches, did not begin during or are otherwise related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right foot condition, and right toe condition are related to service. However, due to a lack of VA examination for his unspecified anxiety disorder prior to the initial increased rating claim, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for tinnitus due to untimely filing of a VA Form 10182. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence showing current hearing loss or that it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 60% for chronic kidney disease/diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, 20% for diabetes mellitus, type II, and 10% each for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not due to his exposure to noise during his active-duty military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The July 2020 rating decision granted a TDIU, but did not result in any past-due benefits. The appeal is denied as the Appellant's services were provided before the date on which the Veteran was notified of the initial decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, specifically the noise exposure during active duty. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus began in service or is related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the evidence did not show a current disability of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied because there is no evidence that his claimed condition had its onset during active service or within one year of separation.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, sleep apnea, foot pain, lack of sleep, and back pain are remanded due to the Veteran's inability to attend scheduled VA examinations during the week.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder associated with degenerative disc disease has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Additionally, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The back condition claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his tinnitus had onset in and has continued since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are inextricably intertwined with other issues on appeal and must be remanded. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a medical opinion regarding when the Veteran's service-connected disorders first manifested, readjudicate the 1981 claim, and readjudicate all of the herein issues on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to military noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, foot disability (to include foot pain and gout), and tinnitus as there is no current evidence of these conditions or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied, while his claim for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence does not show that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and there is no nexus between current tinnitus and any noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.