Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus and voiding dysfunction were denied as not related to her military service. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis need further examination and opinion.,The Veteran was provided with a remand for additional examinations and opinions to address her claims of tinnitus, voiding dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA medical examination in the original decision. The Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise during service is acknowledged, but the adequacy of the VA examination is questioned.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no link between military service and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left wrist disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome), and right wrist disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome). The AOJ is directed to consider these claims in their entirety.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric condition, fatigue, headaches, heart stent, and rashes on the feet, face, and arms are being remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the decision denying eligibility for PCAFC is not clear and does not provide adequate reasons or bases. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headache, left shoulder labral tear, wrist tendinitis, fibromyalgia, lumbosacral strain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, TMJ capsulitis, dry eye syndrome, allergic rhinitis, scars, and psoriasis are considered. The Board has ordered remand to clarify the reason for denial and provide proper notice.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are causally related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied as the condition is already rated at its maximum level.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus and major depressive disorder is granted, along with the restoration of her ratings for bilateral temporomandibular disorder and both knee disorders. The rating reductions for left and right patellofemoral pain syndrome are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's tinnitus and generalized anxiety disorder are granted as secondary to his service-connected lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work for the period prior to January 14, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes-related neuropathies, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU for the period prior to August 30, 2022, and Special Monthly Compensation at the housebound rate for that same period. For the period beginning on August 30, 2022, the Veteran's 100% schedular rating was upheld.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for a hearing loss disability have been denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and thyroid condition due to new evidence being associated with the file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran had the physical ability to perform the required activities but was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these decisions are final.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.