Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for bilateral gynecomastia associated with hypertension, a compensable rating for bilateral tinea pedis, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected lumbar disc disease process disability alone from March 30, 2020, and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s) based on housebound status from July 11, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain relevant VA treatment records stored in VistA Imaging that are not currently associated with the claims file.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to respond to a request for clarification regarding her preferred docket.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their initial onset during service and have continued to progressively worsen ever since.

The Board granted service connection for depression and right knee disability, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus or flat feet.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it to be related to noise exposure during active service. The issues regarding carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded for further evidence.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and folliculitis of the face, but denied service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with PTSD and tinnitus based on direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not support a nexus between the condition and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for kidney disease and prostate cancer. The claims for a left knee condition, right knee condition, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 USC 1318 as the criteria were not met, and remanded the service connection for cause of death due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus but granted it based on the evidence of record. The claims for mechanical lower back pain and left knee, status post meniscus tear, as secondary to right knee strain were remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, as the claim was not received until March 28, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, as well as remanded a claim related to his spine disorder.

The appeal regarding the rating reduction proposal for GERD was dismissed, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder; generalized anxiety disorder; and insomnia disorder, as well as obstructive sleep apnea and bruxism. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied, and the claim for service connection for a memory loss disorder and a nightmare disorder was also denied.