Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 16, 2021, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantial gainful employment during those periods.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are sufficient to establish entitlement to service connection due to a continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 31, 2024 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there was no unadjudicated claim or other basis upon which to grant such a date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, nor did they manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board finds that there is no causal relationship between these conditions and military noise exposure.,There was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and military service.

Your appeal for service connection regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on these claims as they are no longer pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions (chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities) contributed substantially or materially to his death from a fatal fall. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance has also been established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right hand arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective June 13, 2023. The effective date is fixed at the date of claim (June 13, 2022) as there is no earlier entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to failure to notify and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disability in either ear, and the Veteran's STRs do not document any acoustic trauma or hearing loss.,The Board also found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have a causal relationship to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no need for extra-schedular consideration due to adequate compensation under his existing PTSD rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, transient global amnesia, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The Board has found that there is no competent evidence of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.,For the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was granted service connection but a higher rating remains in dispute.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and alopecia associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae are all granted initial ratings. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had onset in service and persisted since, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. However, his hearing loss does not meet the VA definition of a compensable disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be at least as likely as not related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory criteria.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure and reasonable doubt.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, effective February 22, 2022.