Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disabilities are granted as service-connected. The initial ratings for PTSD and seizure disability remain denied, and the issue of sinusitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss was denied in the April 1966 rating decision, but it remained pending until a new evidence-based reopening in 2003. The Board finds that there is no CUE warranting revision of this decision.

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

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 25, 2024 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, sciatica, and PTSD have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including appendectomy scar, back pain, neck pain, bilateral feet pain, left knee strain, right knee strain, gingivitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for granulomatous urethritis and amyloid deposition of kidney, and tinnitus have been denied. The kidney condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. For tinnitus, there is no evidence of chronicity in service or within a presumptive period, nor has it manifested to a compensable degree.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is in remission and not characterized by active disease or treatment, thus denying a compensable rating.,There is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability purposes, leading to denial of service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran experienced it shortly after service and was exposed to noise during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current tinnitus, which began many years after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to their death during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during service and is related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) failed to obtain all relevant service records, including those from Germany where the Veteran contends he served. The RO's decision on tinnitus and headaches is being remanded due to this failure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have already been granted in full with effective dates back to January 3, 2025.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's representative submitted a private medical opinion, but it is considered duplicative and not credible enough to support the claim. The VA examiner did not provide an adequate opinion on whether his service-connected conditions aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's proposed reduction in disability ratings for tinnitus and insomnia was dismissed because the AOJ had not yet issued a decision effecting the proposed reduction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding threshold shifts in his hearing during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical stenosis, lumbar spine, lymphedema, and central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema with pseudophakia of the right eye are all granted. The decision is based on direct evidence of a nexus between each condition and service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation of pre-service disability.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was denied for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities.,Service connection was denied for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's pancreatitis claim is remanded.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The claims of service connection for intracranial lipomas and tinnitus, as well as the initial compensable disability ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and right ear hearing loss, are dismissed due to untimely notices of disagreement. The claim of compensation for burn pit exposure is dismissed because it was not a specific disability but rather an indication that more information was needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, left shoulder disability, and skin disability. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and skin disability are remanded.