Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service and has persisted since his active-duty service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection and a rating of 20% for his left shoulder disability, which is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus as it is moot due to a final decision by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease (vertigo), and kidney disease due to a lack of a Board hearing. The claims are also being remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, clarifying speech discrimination testing used in February 2024 VA treatment records, and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran has current kidney disabilities related to service, including lead exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are granted as service-connected. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, but the effective dates are limited to March 27, 2024. The right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, anxiety disorder, right rotator cuff tendonitis, chronic bilateral reoccurring anterior uveitis, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, dermatofibroma, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and arthritis, have rendered him unable to engage in his previous job as an equipment operator. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of tinnitus, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The disabilities are deemed to have had their onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder disability, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar fusion, migraine headaches, and sinusitis, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 1, 2024.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation from April 1, 2024, forward.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's MOS indicated he was at high risk of noise exposure, and his in-service audiograms showed no hearing loss for VA purposes. The Board found the evidence did not indicate his hearing loss was due to his time in service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 25, 2017 for the award of service connection for tinnitus as part of a previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was raised during the development of his hearing loss claim and linked to exposure to loud noise in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and tinnitus have been dismissed due to a prior grant of service connection in June 2025. The claim for tinnitus is being remanded.

The Veteran's VA examinations were not conducted due to transportation issues. The Board has determined that the AOJ failed to make reasonable attempts to reschedule the exams and thus remands for further action.

The Board has determined that the VA SMC A&A examination and medical opinions are inadequate for adjudicatory purposes. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain a new VA SMC A&A examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and other conditions, caused or contributed to his cause of death by suicide. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 2023 for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted. The evidence shows that the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to his Parkinson's disease and related conditions.