Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to military service and granted. The Veteran's tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU based on depression alone and SMC, as his MFR was denied by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), headaches, tinnitus, a back disorder, right knee and leg arthritis, left knee and leg arthritis, right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis as they are at least as likely as not related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The other issues of service connection are withdrawn.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 21, 2024 for the award of SMC based on a need for A&A. The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not increase in severity within one year prior to this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted, and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder before October 31, 2022, is also granted.,The Veteran's left ankle disability claim is remanded due to lack of range of motion estimates in the previous VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to an erroneous docketing, as there was no underlying rating decision within a year prior to the submission of the Veteran's VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU on a schedular basis, and there is no evidence to support an earlier effective date based on extraschedular considerations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and is therefore denying service connection for hearing loss. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as the Board cannot determine when he first became unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded because it was not factually ascertainable that he met the criteria for a 100% rating within one year prior to filing his claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected disabilities, but rather to nonservice-connected disabilities. The Board denies the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding its onset during ACDUTRA service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The VA needs to obtain an addendum from an appropriate clinician addressing this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the cases of pinguecula and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is unable to dress, undress, feed himself, manage his medications, cook, clean, or drive due to his conditions. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee instability, right knee instability, a mental health disorder (PTSD and GAD), and a compensable rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for low back strain, right and left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, respiratory condition, sinusitis, and rhinitis. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.