Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2024

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus due to missing audiological records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus based on the Veteran's conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were evaluated, but both conditions resulted in non-compensable disability ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support earlier effective dates prior to January 10, 2022.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and other disabilities. The earliest effective date assigned was October 28, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that her current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to her military noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in duty to assist and potential exposure to hazardous materials at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's service records are being verified, and VA examinations will be scheduled for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the maximum schedular disability rating of 10 percent for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there are outstanding medical records, a need for an updated VA examination, and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to hazardous noise exposure during his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's complete STRs, including a separation Report of Medical History, and provide an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced it during her military service and continues to have it since then.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it manifested within one year of separation. Service connection for hearing loss and GERD are denied due to lack of current disability criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The appeals have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to untimeliness of the VA Form 10182. The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for a higher schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss disability in the right ear due to a lack of current disability as defined by VA regulations.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss disability in the left ear, tinnitus, and back disability (degenerative arthritis).

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Gulf War. The Veteran's tinnitus was denied as not shown in service or within one year of discharge, and not otherwise etiologically related.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a lack of an examination. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, Anxiety) and erectile dysfunction are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the NOD did not identify an appealable decision by the AOJ with which he disagreed.