Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection and a higher rating for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on her credible reports of in-service acoustic trauma and continuous symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder subdeltoid bursitis (claimed as degenerative arthritis), right shoulder strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis), major depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and denied increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, while remanding claims for a cervical spine disability, hypertension, and a left shoulder disorder.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral vertical taluses and dismissed appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot plantar fasciitis. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability was remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of September 26, 2013 for the award of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) for the period from August 29, 2014, to June 16, 2019.

The appeal for initial ratings in excess of 10% for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50% for unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia, were dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 29, 2018, for the 70 percent rating assigned for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and denied a higher initial rating. The decision also addressed various other claims related to service connection, TDIU, DEA benefits, and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus based on the evidence showing that these conditions are caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, migraines, a cervical strain, right rotator cuff tendinopathy (right shoulder disability), bilateral flatfoot, and a gastrointestinal disability manifested by diarrhea. The initial rating for lumbosacral sprain was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance, as her service-connected disabilities did not necessitate regular assistance from another person. The claim for housebound criteria was dismissed as it had already been granted in a previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing he has a current disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a need for an addendum VA opinion and proper notice of the right to a hearing.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that both conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.