Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is due to active military service and affording him the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in determining service connection for a head injury, diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes cavus with hallux valgus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, and lumbosacral scoliosis and IVDS are denied due to lack of earlier effective dates.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA). The examiner opined that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss and tinnitus and his ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's claims for closed fracture right fifth metacarpal bone neck, ingrown toenail (paronychia), irritable bowel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, seborrhea, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees related to past-due benefits from the February 2025 grant of service connection and SMC housebound claims.

The Veteran is not eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) as he can independently perform all activities of daily living without requiring personal care services and is not in need of supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is etiologically related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. Service connection for GERD is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of audiometric data from service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, glaucoma, and pseudophakia.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that both conditions began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision also assigns a 10% rating for recurrent tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied. The decision also found that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss since June 29, 2024, is not warranted, and an earlier effective date than June 29, 2024, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is not granted.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to a lack of evidence showing that his current diagnosis began during service or was related to in-service injury. The Board gave more weight to the VA examiner's opinion which concluded that OSA is not related to toxic exposure risk activities or COPD.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his hearing acuity levels were at Level I in both ears.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher. The Board denied a request for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service. The post-service noise exposure from occupational work is considered more likely responsible for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The Veteran's TDIU claim from July 1, 2011 is also granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) did not present valid grounds to challenge the final rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, a sleep related disorder, a cervical spine (neck) disorder, a thoracolumbar spine (lower back) disorder, and a left knee disorder as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.