Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for the veteran's bilateral tinnitus, left foot disability (4th and 5th digit extensor tendonitis), and left foot scars.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus, left and right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia, allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted an effective date of December 2, 1991, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 29, 2012 for the grant of service connection for PTSD but denied an earlier effective date prior to September 6, 2023 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions and denied service connection for several additional conditions, including tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, left sciatic radicular pain of the left leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, and a back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints, a low back disability, and a left ankle disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for asthma. The issues of service connection for chronic rhinitis and vertigo, claimed as dizziness, are remanded.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were dismissed as the Board Appeal requests were not timely filed.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was withdrawn by the veteran, and it was determined that the veteran did not have qualifying active military service to establish status as a veteran for VA benefits purposes.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and right knee disability due to deficiencies in the VA examination and character of discharge determination.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, but the Board granted entitlement to VA nonservice-connected burial benefits because he had pending claims for hearing loss and tinnitus at the time of his death.

The Board granted service connection for a disorder of the feet, claimed as status post bunionectomy and status post gallbladder removal. The claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other back, bladder, GERD, hysterectomy, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and plantar fasciitis disabilities were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous military noise during active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor based on in-service exposure to hazardous noise.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an increased rating for ADHD. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee meniscal tear were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis (lumbar spine), and lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claims for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not support the level of impairment required for these ratings.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle strain with lateral instability, bipolar I disorder, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for a bilateral foot disability other than pes planus due to a duty-to-assist error.