Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not making reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records from Dr. T. of Southwestern Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates (SENTA).

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), and TDIU due to non-compliance with prior remand directives. The case will be referred back to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of extraschedular evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability had its onset during active duty due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset in service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and back conditions, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not attending a VA examination for tinnitus, and it is unclear if he was notified of the examinations. The Veteran should be given another opportunity to report for a VA examination with regard to this appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus and credible lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure, leading to an award of service connection. For his right knee disability, the Board finds the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service. The Board finds that there is no positive nexus opinion relating the Veteran’s tinnitus to a period of active service, but resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and grants service connection for tinnitus. Service connection for head trauma and nose injury are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and both knees. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and whether the Appellant has status as a veteran for VA purposes. The AOJ is instructed to request specific details from the Appellant regarding his claimed disabilities and their potential relationship to his military service, including which periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA he believes are relevant.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claim for service connection of various conditions was not filed within one year of his daughters' 18th birthdays, and thus an earlier effective date could not be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and has persisted since then. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, and sinus disorder has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of these conditions.,For the initial compensable rating claim, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 0 percent as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the reopening of previously denied claims for right shoulder tendonitis, left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and loss of balance due to outstanding treatment records and addendum opinions.