Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions from a qualified medical examiner regarding the etiology of the claimed tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities have been granted. The service connection is established based on direct evidence of a current disability, in-service exposure to noise, and continuity of symptoms since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea, including whether it is secondary to tinnitus. The Veteran's representative provided an additional private opinion in April 2023 asserting that service connection should be granted based on VAOPGCPREC No. 6-2003, which addresses whether service connection should be established for a tobacco-related disability or death on the basis that the disability or death was secondary to a service-connected mental disability that caused the veteran to use tobacco products. However, the Board finds it more appropriate to address this contention with consideration of obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient consideration of relevant service treatment records and the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to its presumptive nature based on exposure to noise during combat.,There is no current diagnosis of a lower back disability, and the evidence does not support a finding that any such condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted since the October 2019 rating decision supports a grant of service connection. The Board determined that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to her military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist disability, and low back disability are all found to be related to service. The infertility and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further development.,Issues regarding the infertility and acquired psychiatric disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inconsistencies in his statements regarding the onset of his tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran is also being advised that he must provide adequate responses to the audiological examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of vertigo, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The case is being returned for an addendum VA medical opinion and further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to care for his daily personal needs without assistance from others, or unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living on a regular basis. Therefore, entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The decision is based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Service connection is also remanded for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and some other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service.

Service connection is granted for right hip stress fracture, posttraumatic DJD of the right hip.,Service connection is granted for left hip stress fracture, posttraumatic DJD of the left hip.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (also claimed as panic disorder) due to personal trauma (PT).,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for cervicothoracic pain with right upper extremity radicular pain and weakness.,Service connection is granted for traumatic brain injury residuals.,Service connection is granted for brain aneurysm.,Service connection is granted for low back pain.,Service connection is granted for cephalgia (headaches).

The Veteran's service-connected alcohol/multisubstance abuse is granted as secondary to his PTSD. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, while the Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not related to his military service.,For the remaining issues (right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, loss of use of the right lower extremity, and loss of use of the left lower extremity), the case is remanded for further development.