Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (MDD) from January 13, 2020 to July 18, 2021, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due exclusively to service-connected MDD effective October 13, 2020.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 10, 2022 and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the evidence did not support a claim filed within one year of the prior denial in 2007.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, tinnitus, and bilateral uveitis, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including subthreshold PTSD and problems related to employment.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims on appeal due to missing service treatment records that were later located.

The Board dismissed the service connection claims for tinnitus and chronic kidney disease due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service injury or disease, and no nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied all initial disability ratings for the veteran's low back, left foot, left little finger, right wrist, tinnitus, and scars disabilities, except for a separate 10 percent evaluation for a painful scar of the back.

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 military service.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection due to insufficient evidence linking the conditions to active service or other presumptive exposures.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service. The claims for psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, left eye disability, right eye disability, cervical spine disability, and left shoulder disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to in-service events.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD based on new and relevant evidence submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent pharyngitis, an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder), tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tension headaches.

The appeal concerning service connection for a rib fracture was dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing a VA Form 10182 with the July 2022 rating decision appealed herein. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis was granted, while the claims for a higher rating for tinnitus and service connection for sleep disturbances were denied.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's entire mental health condition, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder due to tinnitus with generalized anxiety disorder, has been service-connected at 100 percent effective August 21, 2020.