Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and remanded several other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 30, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran was also denied an initial compensable rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and residuals of arthroscopic meniscectomy and chondroplasty prior to October 24, 2017, and from October 2, 2020, as well as a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or within a year of separation and that the onset of tinnitus occurred approximately 18 years after service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, while denying service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain and remanded several other claims related to service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, and remanded the claim for total disability for individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied service connection for tinnitus. The other claims, including a back disorder, sleep disorder other than insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were granted service connection, while the claims for a kidney condition, heart condition, and bilateral eye condition were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lower back pain, residuals of surgery, cyst removal tailbone (pilonidal), and painful scar, gluteal cleft to correct a duty to assist error related to obtaining relevant treatment records and verifying active duty and inactive duty training dates.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins, and tinnitus. The effective date for the 70 percent rating of posttraumatic stress disorder was granted as October 19, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and headache not otherwise specified, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for TBI, neck disorder, and right arm disorder were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder and a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features, while denying earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and appeals, effective December 11, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU. A 10 percent rating was granted for tension headaches.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for tinnitus, but granted service connection for a right testicular condition secondary to the Veteran's status post inguinal hernia repair.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric condition, finding no evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 13, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for instability of the left and right knees, but denied a higher rating for tinnitus and remanded claims for increased ratings for degenerative changes in the great toes.