Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has persisted since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric disability), tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain with levoconvex midthoracic scoliosis (lumbar spine disability), right shoulder dislocation with rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder strain (right shoulder disability), left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis (left shoulder disability), right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), right ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (right ankle disability), and left ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (left ankle disability) has been granted. The effective date for these decisions is November 28, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia disorder as secondary to tinnitus, but denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Veteran's insomnia is found to be a separate and distinct condition from his tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back pain, tinnitus, right upper extremity wrist pain, and left upper extremity wrist pain as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acid reflux, a left foot condition, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or causal relationships with in-service events.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, IBS, and tinnitus) do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation based on his education and work history.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals due to untimely filing of the appeal requests, as no good cause was shown for the delay.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus because there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus in the medical records, and the VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms are more likely related to non-organic hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a new opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's OSA and his service-connected tinnitus with insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or a link to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is based on a lack of current disability, while the dismissal of the tinnitus claim is due to the grant of service connection in an earlier rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in an inability to dress or undress himself, adjust prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, and protect him from hazards. The VA is required to schedule a VA examination to assess whether SMC based on aid and attendance is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the issuance of the HLR rating decision currently on appeal. The Board will obtain a VA examination to determine whether his service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of either regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right foot condition have been granted service connection.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded for further review.