Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, bilateral knee disability, and left ankle disability. The initial ratings for these conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus, finding the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to noise exposure during his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, effective September 11, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service or later that is related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disability, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU prior to September 12, 2018. The issue will be reviewed with consideration of all service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the law does not allow for retroactive payment prior to August 25, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss, secondary to residuals of subtotal transsphenoidal resection of benign pituitary macroadenoma. The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD) are granted service connection, but tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus should be January 23, 1979. The Veteran's initial claim included a request for service connection for hearing impairment, which was interpreted as including a claim for tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure, and his tinnitus is secondary to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran and the need for a VA examination. The effective dates of service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss have also been adjusted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of a left foot injury, headaches, and a sinus disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus, a right foot disorder, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened, and the Board granted it. The rating for GERD remains at 30 percent, but the reduction in rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.