Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board remanded all issues to obtain missing medical records and further evaluate the veteran's claims.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus because the evidence showed it did not start during or shortly after service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection for tinnitus because the VA examination was inadequate. The Veteran's statements about when his symptoms began were too imprecise, and the examiner did not clarify key details.

The veteran is granted special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) from March 25, 2016, but the claim for entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) is remanded.

The veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted. The claims for right and left ear hearing loss were remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions were denied. However, the veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for Bell's palsy and an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and sleep apnea. Several other issues were remanded for further review.

The veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance was granted. The decision is based on the veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to functional limitations from service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

Service connection for tinnitus and left heel spur was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral foot disorder other than service-connected bilateral pes planus and left heel spur, and a bilateral leg disorder other than service-connected bilateral knee strains was denied.

The Board granted some issues, denied others, and remanded several for further development. The veteran's ratings for onychomycosis and GERD were restored to 30 percent. Effective dates for service connection for right shoulder surgical scars and lumbar spine surgical scar were granted. Several other issues were denied or dismissed.

The Board dismissed claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for several conditions. Some issues were remanded for further review.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied the appeals for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, right anterior shoulder scar. The other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus because there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's one-month period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation, so he was granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal for service connection of tinnitus is remanded to ensure compliance with prior instructions. The Board needs an addendum medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with new medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's diagnosed tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to acoustic trauma incurred during active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so he is granted total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).