Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board is requesting additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further development as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and restored service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for tremors and an effective date prior to October 4, 2012, for a 20 percent rating for lumbar strain. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for TBI and tinnitus have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded the claims for PTSD, TBI, tinnitus, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The denial of hearing loss was based on the absence of a diagnosis meeting VA criteria, while the grant of tinnitus was due to its chronic nature and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since June 1, 2007. The Board has granted an effective date of June 1, 2007 for the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches are all found to be secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 40 percent for TBI from January 14, 2019.,Prior to January 14, 2019, the Veteran's TBI was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and right knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,There is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities. The Veteran’s STRs do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during service.,The Board finds that continuity of symptomatology has not been established, and the Veteran's assertions regarding onset during service are not credible given his post-service medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, as it began in service and continues today. The dental condition claim is denied because there is no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board has determined that the maximum disability rating possible under applicable criteria is 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus. For other claims, a new examination and additional evidence are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to non-compliance with a previous remand directive.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected depressive disorder is granted, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and obstructive sleep apnea are all denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a low back condition due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to discrepancies in the Veteran's audiograms during service. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion considering the proper unit conversions and determining if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a higher initial rating for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for left ear hearing loss was granted with an initial 0 percent rating.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and sarcoidosis, but denied for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's cause of death due to sarcoidosis is also confirmed.,The claim for asthma remains pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.