Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and a higher than 10 percent disability rating for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied it for a headache disability.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines alone prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the migraine headaches was granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support that these conditions were caused by an injury or illness during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that a claim was filed within one year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding a nexus to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for left hip strain with limitation of extension and remanded several other service connection claims.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and remanded claims related to other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from February 13, 2019, and an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right elbow, left elbow, and left shoulder disabilities, as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, plantar fasciitis, gastrointestinal disability, left foot disability, and irritable bowel syndrome were remanded for further development.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches and granted effective dates of June 13, 2020 for service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral back strain. The claims for service connection for a dental disorder and increased rating for lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/military sexual trauma (MST) due to a need for additional development of evidence.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss to noncompensable was proper, and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete documentation of the Veteran's periods of active duty, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the awarded TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, as it found that the criteria for entitlement to an effective date earlier than October 19, 2021, had not been met.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the evidence did not show that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability (neck), and left shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board granted increased ratings for migraines and GERD, but dismissed the appeals related to other issues due to untimeliness.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, as the maximum schedular evaluation is already assigned.