Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran also does not meet criteria for TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review of his claims, including a rating adjustment and effective date determination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, and the claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, granting service connection and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and his disabilities do not meet the requirements of SMC under this section.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to her service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to her service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as a direct result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 23, 2024.

The Veteran's appeals for the proposed reduction of facial scars, an increased rating for tinnitus, and service connection for migraines have been dismissed due to untimely filings or lack of good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's loud and steady ringing in his ears since service is attributable to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, lower back disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to untimely filing of VA Form 10182. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is denied, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals was dismissed because his Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was not filed within one year after the November 2007 rating decision denying these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have begun during service and continue to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus began in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder to include alcohol use disorder), and hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. His generalized anxiety disorder is related to his active-duty service. His hypertension is linked to stress experienced during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed because the appeal request was not filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause was shown to extend the filing deadline.