Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of a pending unadjudicated claim prior to July 12, 2022. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at July 12, 2022.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's tinnitus disability due to conceded noise exposure during service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and left knee disability. Service connection is denied for fatigue, blurred vision, deviated septum, dyspnea (other than heart disability), and gastroesophageal reflux disease.,The Veteran's service records show he experienced symptoms of tinnitus during active duty in 1991 and his left knee injury occurred during a qualifying period of National Guard service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining private treatment records and reviewing evidence added to the claims file since the March 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran's TDIU rating claim is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular evaluation prior to May 22, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment from December 12, 2017 to December 31, 2019 on an extraschedular basis.

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

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examiner with the opportunity to address the nexus between current tinnitus and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's spouse, D., was added as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective November 21, 2014. The appeal for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but the hearing loss disability claim requires further review.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension, sinusitis, and rhinitis have been granted service connection. Tinnitus has also been granted from April 13, 2021. However, the claim for sarcoidosis due to environmental exposures is being remanded as there was a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an examination.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted the claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise during his active-duty service is likely related to his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's non-VA emergency care for appendicitis was reimbursed as she had utilized VA healthcare in the previous 24 months, and her claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of major depressive disorder was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in his bilateral hearing loss disability rating was denied as he refused to attend additional VA examinations without good cause.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of tinnitus was denied because the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned, and no higher evaluation is warranted based on the current evidence.,Service connection for HIV was denied due to lack of a current disability. The weight of the persuasive evidence did not support finding that the Veteran had HIV.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder was denied as there was no evidence of a chronic left ankle disorder during service or within one year following discharge, and the claimant's statements were insufficient to establish nexus.

The Veteran's hearing loss and ringing in the ears do not meet VA disability criteria.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied as no new evidence was received within a year of the March 2008 rating decision, and the earliest receipt of a supplemental claim was January 4, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms since separation from service.