Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran also sought SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for either.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and other benefits related to his service-connected conditions. The decision also upheld some of his existing disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue and dizziness have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring new VA medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus began decades after his discharge from service and is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back strain was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle strain prior to May 22, 2025 and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter from that date was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as the July 2020 rating decision implicitly addressed the issue of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but did not explicitly grant a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death from COVID-19. The VA will obtain a new opinion on this issue.