Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus, finding that the claim was filed on February 22, 2022, and that entitlement to service connection arose during service. The Veteran's contentions regarding a remand were not addressed as the issue had not yet been decided.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, basal cell carcinoma of the neck, diplopia (hypermetropia), type II diabetes mellitus, a heart condition, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The effective dates for these claims cannot be determined without further examination.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of ambulance transportation costs incurred on August 25, 2025 was denied because the application was not received within 30 days after the travel. The Board found that the travel did not meet the criteria for beneficiary travel benefits due to lack of prior approval and timely filing.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and vertigo, with the latter being secondary to migraines. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected TMJ and tinnitus were granted effective January 31, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, OSA, and a psychiatric disability are denied. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that there is no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss due to duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to her active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea, and left knee strain are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right mandible fracture, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TMJ disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date than May 6, 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, but the claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to new evidence.,Left ear hearing loss has also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral otitis media, tinnitus, and migraines have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Specifically, the Veteran does not meet the auditory threshold requirements for hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle and left ankle conditions, finding no current disability. The Veteran's claims for left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, headaches, and tinnitus have been granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a headache disability and an increased rating for tinnitus due to a failure to provide notice of the right to a hearing prior to issuing the initial or supplemental decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, thoracic strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, left ankle ganglion cyst and ruptured saphenous vein, and left great toe matrixectomy with a left medial foot scar. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.