Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board is remanding all issues for correction of a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,Specifically, the Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, right great toe disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the AOJ not having scheduled examinations or obtaining medical opinions prior to denying these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the June 2024 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure, but further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left foot, and right foot disabilities. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an anterior C6-7 diskectomy was denied in a June 2007 rating decision. The AOJ found that new and relevant evidence had not been received sufficient to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claim.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining his complete service treatment records, including his separation examination and reserve service records. The VA is required to attempt to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 18, 2023, on an extraschedular basis is being remanded as the AOJ did not consider all evidence of record and failed to refer the case to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause an impairment in his ability to obtain, maintain, or retain suitable employment. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an employment handicap and was therefore not entitled to VR&E services.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disorder, insomnia, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus. The claims are pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his in-service noise exposure and granting the benefit of doubt.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's military noise exposure is conceded, but further examination is needed to determine if his hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. The Board denied VR&E benefits as the Veteran does not meet the threshold requirement of having an employment handicap.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is currently enrolled in college and has attempted to re-enter the workforce. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his mental health conditions rather than his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and an increased rating for ulcers with GERD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back disability and depression, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2015. Effective from April 1, 2015, the Veteran is granted TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in the pre-decisional duty to assist, and a need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic headaches as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a 50% balance of evidence in favor of this claim.