Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and right ankle disability are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service and has been continuous since then. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of symptoms in service and post-service.

The Veteran's appeal is being reviewed for higher ratings in several areas, including PTSD, BHL, and tinnitus. The VA has not obtained all relevant private treatment records from the Veteran's private medical provider (K.P.) and has not provided adequate VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the March 2025 decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and remands the case to allow for a new medical determination considering all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's conditions and functional ability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, CAD, and bilateral lower extremity nerve damage, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disorder, including a bone spur, is remanded.

The Veteran's lower back disability, tinnitus, and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date on his service connection for tinnitus, finding that the January 2003 rating decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current tinnitus and military noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, as supported by reports of noise exposure during service and continuity of symptoms since then.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder due to medical condition, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. The rating assigned is 100 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest until many years after service and were not causally related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active duty is sufficient to establish a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for paralysis of the median nerve (claimed as right-sided weakness) is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as his symptoms are fully contemplated by the existing rating criteria and he already receives the maximum schedular evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 18, 2020, for a higher rating of 40 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to address the aggravation component of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, fibromyalgia, heart condition, thyroid disorder, primary optic atrophy of the bilateral eyes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service.