Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his chronic lumbar strain, limitation of flexion in the left knee, and athlete's foot are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to military service, as there was no evidence of auditory damage during service. The left knee disability is also not related to military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability, lumbar disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and cesarean section scar were not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has aggravated his current headaches disability, and the Board grants service connection for headaches on a secondary basis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because the appeal requests were not timely filed, and good cause was not shown for the late filing.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during active service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is caused by military noise exposure during active duty and National Guard service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective June 8, 2023, due to his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder.,The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on housebound from June 8, 2023, as he has a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable above 60%.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic migraines was dismissed as moot because the claim was granted from the date the intent to file a claim for compensation was received on April 3, 2024. The other claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right inguinal hernia status post surgical repair is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left heel spur and plantar fasciitis, status post surgical repair is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during active duty. However, his bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of its onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU, DEA, and SMC for statutory housebound during the period beginning January 31, 2023. His tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) to include as secondary to bilateral tinnitus is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examiner did not address whether the condition was aggravated by service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was granted effective April 17, 2024, based on his multiple service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is April 17, 2024, which the Veteran has been granted and believes to be the correct date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted effective February 19, 2014. This is the earliest date of a pending claim and the manifestation of symptoms occurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, erectile dysfunction also claimed as low testosterone, and a disability manifested as shortness of breath and coughing are denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, right and left shoulder impingement syndrome due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of March 31, 2011 for a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected lumbar spine condition and other disabilities from March 31, 2011.