Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial ratings for service-connected nonspecific headaches and tinnitus were denied, while the VA remanded several other claims.,For the left knee disability and right knee disability, the VA found that more than a certain percentage rating was warranted but remanded to clarify examination findings.

The Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings for tinnitus and ulnar tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity were denied as untimely filed more than one year after the February 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed because the appeal request was not filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause was shown to extend the filing deadline.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing service connection under TERA. The cause of death was attributed to cardiovascular disease, but there are uncertainties regarding the Veteran's lung cancer status and potential service-connected causes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to military noise exposure. The Board also noted that the Veteran does not have a currently service-connected disability that could be related to his tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for enrollment in the PCAFC program is being remanded due to an inadequate decision from the AOJ. The Board finds that the eligibility criteria were not properly considered, and additional evidence should be evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is granted due to his service-connected disabilities affecting both lower extremities, resulting in the equivalent of loss of use. The appeal concerning a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot because the Veteran is now eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, loss of teeth, and hypertension are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claims.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 16, 2020 for both TDIU and DEA benefits. The Board found the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since December 16, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis with facet arthrosis and Schmorl nodes, right wrist disability (status post ganglion cyst removal), night coughing, chest pain and recurring rib displacement, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, headache disability, bilateral pes planus, right hand disability, and left knee disability has been dismissed due to untimely filings of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and cellulitis on the right foot due to failure to report for VA examinations. The Veteran's current disabilities are not established.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate VA opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected basal cell carcinoma/actinic keratosis does not require therapy comparable to systemic malignancies and is currently rated at 0 percent.,The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (10%) has already been assigned. The Veteran cannot be granted a higher rating based on this condition alone.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's shortness of breath or COPD are related to his service, including due to in-service participation in a toxic-risk exposure activity (TERA).,The Veteran's COPD does not appear to be linked to his service. The issue remains remanded as there may be additional information needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied due to his failure to appear for a VA examination. The Board finds the Veteran had good cause for not appearing and remands the case for scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a lack of VA examinations addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected as it began during his active duty and falls under the presumptive conditions for noise exposure.