Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted an effective date of September 3, 2019 for the service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals of left foot surgery, scar of the left foot, painful scar of the left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding the Veteran's symptoms were not exceptional or unusual enough to warrant a higher rating under the schedular criteria.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied it for hearing loss. The claims for headaches, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as it was not shown to be chronic in service, did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the current disability and the Veteran's active service.

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

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus based on the Veteran's credible and continuous report of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) which was granted effective August 9, 2017.

The Board granted a revision of the May 1972 decision, granting an initial 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus effective September 16, 1969.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from September 29, 2011, and granted an initial 10 percent rating for vertigo from the same date. The Board also denied service connection for restrictive lung disease, hypertension, cardiac muscle damage, testicular and groin pain, neck disability, back disability, right hand disability, right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving any reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee strain as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected right knee strain, but dismissed his appeal for tinnitus and remanded claims for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (OST) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including additional VA examinations and medical opinions to address theories of entitlement that were not acknowledged by the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, and related mental health conditions but denied left ear hearing loss. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, a respiratory disorder, and panic attacks were remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for post traumatic headaches, and a TDIU was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a thyroid condition, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, hypertension heart condition, lumbar spine disability, and psychiatric disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches as of July 24, 2020, and also granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and inguinal hernias with scars. The other issues of service connection were remanded.