Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found no current disability related to bilateral hearing loss and concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, a condition related to noise exposure during service, is granted as service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including private treatment records, during its review.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, while left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tinnitus disabilities have been found to prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depressive disorder, right elbow strain, left elbow strain, lumbago, bilateral hearing loss, and inguinal hernia have all been denied. Service connection has only been granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus, gout in the right hand and bilateral lower extremities, and sleep apnea are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension, arthritis, neck condition, restless leg syndrome, sciatica, and back condition are denied service connection.

The appeal for higher ratings of psychiatric disability is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, and melanoma of the skin is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. Service connection was granted for left knee strain and right knee strain.,Service connection for cold exposure of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a collarbone disability, were not established.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent evaluations for the Veteran's service-connected insomnia disorder and tinnitus.

The appeal seeking a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is also dismissed.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the rate authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m)(1/2) based on his service-connected disabilities, including Porphyria cutanea tarda with chronic urticaria and non-thrombocytopenia purpura (60% rating), Insomnia Disorder Associated with Tinnitus (50% rating), and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) with erectile dysfunction; back, gout associated with DM; left ankle gout, associated with DM; and right ankle gout, associated with DM (50% rating).

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right foot disability, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for degenerative arthritis of the spine with scoliosis prior to October 27, 2023, is granted.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 27, 2019 for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder, tinnitus, and chronic migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned an initial 10% disability rating effective from December 20, 2023. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of the Veteran's claim to readjudicate his previously denied claim of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's diagnosed obesity and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 9, 2011, for the award of service connection for recurrent tinnitus was granted. The decision is based on new evidence received after the original denial in February 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-chiasmal disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied eligibility for attorney fees as the June 2024 TDIU decision was not an initial decision on service connection claims, but rather a determination of unemployability based on previously granted conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and is currently present, meeting the criteria for service connection.