Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure. The decision also establishes that these conditions meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating (10%) for recurrent tinnitus.,Prior to October 23, 2022, the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraine including migraine variants was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, so the cases have been dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed because the appeal was untimely filed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted due to the submission of new evidence showing noise exposure during service.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, both related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination regarding the Veteran's ability to require aid and attendance or be housebound.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating. The Veteran was previously granted a TDIU prior to May 22, 2022, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The cervical spine disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for tension headaches and lightheadedness, as well as tinnitus. The Veteran's appeal is being held due to a duty-to-assist error where relevant private treatment records were not obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the claims for bilateral leg conditions due to missing records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and cannot be increased further under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee shin splints are rated at 10 percent due to requiring treatment for more than 12 consecutive months.,The Veteran's right knee shin splints are also rated at 10 percent based on the same criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disorder and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all theories of entitlement and evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable, his tinnitus at the minimum schedular rating of 10%, and his acquired psychiatric disorder was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and tinnitus have been denied.,A compensable evaluation for hemorrhoidectomy with pruritus ani has also been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered to have been incurred in service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's right ear hearing distortion is currently rated as Level I, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Tinnitus has been assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than August 6, 2021 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and an effective date earlier than August 25, 2023 for the grants of service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic, left and right are denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent for disc degeneration at fifth lumbar, first sacral of the lumbar spine, and ratings in excess of 40 and 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic, left and right are denied.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for scar, left knee, a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scar, left knee, and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a 10% rating effective October 1, 2021. The claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is denied.