Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new character of discharge determination under revised regulations. The issues on appeal include both the service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea as well as the characterization of the Appellant's discharge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and for obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has found a duty to assist error occurred and remands the case for a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance and/or is permanently housebound due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is denied as his hearing thresholds did not meet the required levels for bilateral hearing loss during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted as it manifested within one year of separation from service and is not attributable to intercurrent causes. The appeal for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for left wrist melanoma was denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship with herbicide agent exposure or sun exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), BPH, GERD, hypertension, chronic dyspnea, vertigo as secondary to tinnitus, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, insomnia, and chronic fatigue have all been granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for PTSD. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to new evidence received after the August 2013 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neuropathy in the upper extremities are related to his service-connected disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy in the upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no current diagnosis or present disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition manifested within one year after separation from service and not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim, including extraschedular consideration, is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The case should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

Service connection for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, and bladder cancer associated with herbicide agent exposure has been granted.,Service connection for recurrent gonorrhea residuals, recurrent anthrax vaccination residuals, and an acquired eye disability (refractive error and hyperopia) has not been granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 23, 1996 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted on a direct basis.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee arthritis post total knee replacement, and right knee arthritis post total knee replacement have all been granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus, carcinoma testis status post left orchiectomy, and carcinoma of the lymph nodes are related to service. The Board finds that a remand is necessary for further examination regarding bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction as secondary to carcinoma testis status.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposal to reduce the disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied, and his claim for service connection for a penile disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection has been established for both conditions based on direct evidence of a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and depression due to new evidence received after the initial decision.