Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining the Veteran's personnel records. The claims are also intertwined as tinnitus may be secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent, and service connection is granted for a sleep disability. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's back, psychiatric, right hand, lower leg, or knee disabilities had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show an intent to file a claim prior to May 22, 2013, for tinnitus and dismissed the appeal for the 10% rating for cephalalgia, tension headaches as it was merely implementing a previous decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied because the evidence does not show that he has characteristic lesions involving at least five percent but less than 20 percent of the entire body affected; or intermittent systemic therapy over the past 12-month period.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are inconsistencies in the medical records regarding whether his hearing loss had its onset during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral glaucoma and service connection for other conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's military noise exposure likely caused his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment as of February 18, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records, specifically from Vet Center. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD and earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for sleep apnea is denied. The claims for left and right knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of April 9, 2020, as the increase in his PTSD symptoms made it impossible for him to maintain full-time employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his active-duty service and his current condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, HIV and AIDS, PFB, and left hand ring finger disability are denied. The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for his left hand scar disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus did not have its onset during active duty and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims prior to a Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to August 10, 2022. Beginning August 10, 2022, his combined disability rating is 100 percent and the issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities.

Service connection granted for migraine headaches. Service connection denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,One of the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for anxiety condition as secondary to migraine headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, bilateral hearing loss disability (right ear), and tinnitus due to potential exposure during active duty. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.