Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and chest pains, and denied increased ratings for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cluster headaches with dizziness, scar, painful scar, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, eczematoid dermatitis, and GERD with irritable bowel syndrome. The Board granted a restoration of the 30 percent rating for GERD with IBS and granted TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability and sinusitis, but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for psychiatric disability and certain left hip conditions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) exclusively due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status from August 31, 2023.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and PTSD, was withdrawn by the Veteran. The claim for tinnitus was denied due to a lack of credible evidence supporting its presence during the pendency or in close proximity to filing the service-connection claim.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a direct link between the Veteran's military noise exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from December 13, 2006, such that entitlement to a TDIU is warranted from that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as remanded certain issues.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent, prior to January 29, 2024, for service-connected Meniere's disease and tinnitus; special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s); and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 29, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that new and relevant evidence had been submitted to support the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to July 19, 2024, as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, varicose veins, right knee disability, and bilateral foot pain causing impairment in earning capacity on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it to be related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The issues of service connection for anxiety and insomnia were remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, and the appeal was dismissed.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus due to a procedural error in the notice provided to the Veteran.

The Board granted an effective date of November 25, 2020, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus but denied an earlier effective date for hallux valgus, left foot.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability began during her active service and has continued since then.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings, as well as a TDIU prior to April 8, 2022.