Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral tinnitus disability but denied it for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gamekeeper's thumb, left, plantar fasciitis, left, and carpal tunnel syndrome, right were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) was denied as the evidence did not show that he required personal health-care services provided on a daily basis in his home by a person who is licensed to provide such services or under the regular supervision of a licensed health-care professional.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 19, 2021, for the award of service connection for tinnitus but denied all other claims for service connection and special monthly compensation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, restored a 10 percent rating for right knee instability effective May 12, 2021, and granted an effective date of June 22, 2016, but no earlier, for the award of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding their relationship to service.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for Meniere's syndrome with vertigo, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus prior to October 17, 2020, and in excess of 60 percent, thereafter; and an effective date earlier than January 20, 2024, for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (s) rate based on statutory housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, an upper back disability, and a thoracolumbar spine disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active or Reserve service.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus. The claims for service connection for bilateral hammertoe deformities and chronic headaches were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions but granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to November 27, 2023.

The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to the appellant's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as the weight of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service, within one year of separation from service, or is otherwise etiologically related to active service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to an incomplete record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for right ear hearing loss and vertigo due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus, as the claims were previously denied and became final.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the restoration of service connection for tinnitus due to a clear and unmistakable error in the original grant, while remanding the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current tinnitus.