Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during his service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 25, 2024 for service connection for hypertension and tinnitus have been denied. For the entire initial rating period on appeal (beginning July 25, 2024), a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for hypertension has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed tinnitus, and therefore, service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, and his hypertension has been granted a rating of 10 percent effective August 10, 2022. The earlier effective date for the hypertension rating is granted, but the earlier effective date for TDIU remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective May 21, 2022. An initial 50% evaluation for migraine headaches is granted from June 8, 2021. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. Effective dates are assigned as specified.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for migraines and granted service connection for tinnitus on a direct basis, finding that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis and the Veteran's occasional throbbing in his ears did not meet the criteria for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 8, 2023, for service connection for depressive disorder was granted. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for right ear tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his conceded noise exposure during active service, but not to toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been granted with an effective date of October 6, 2022. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The claim for a higher rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as the Veteran failed to report for an examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the tinnitus was a symptom of the hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

Service connection for psychiatric disability (chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and insomnia) and tinnitus is now established as being related to service. Effective December 9, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining VA examination opinions prior to the June 2021 rating decision. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his lumbar spine spondylosis and left knee degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for further development regarding his right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus. The Board finds that the issues of service connection for sleep disturbances and GERD require further development due to insufficient evidence.