Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and noise exposure in service. The AOJ will gather additional information from the claims file, including the Veteran's lay statements and medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The cervical spine condition issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to receiving a 100% total disability rating based on combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions are being evaluated, as is his current symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The case is being remanded due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, chronic bronchitis, and lumbosacral strain as there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's bladder disability claim is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.,Tinnitus has been granted as the Board finds that it first manifested during active service and is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted effective August 3, 2023. Additionally, the Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also granted effective August 3, 2023.,The decision grants an earlier effective date of August 3, 2023 for both service connection and DEA benefits.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of May 10, 2005 for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.,The Veteran was also granted an earlier effective date of May 10, 2005 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's acne (claimed as facial skin disorder) is not service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (claimed as lower back condition) is not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the Board finding that it is due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right ankle disability and tinnitus, and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had noise exposure during service, which is sufficient to establish a direct link between her current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for tinnitus or adjustment disorder with depressed mood, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia disorder due to the current schedular ratings being appropriate. Service connection has also been denied for pseudofolliculitis barbae, acne, constipation, muscle breakdown, cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain, right hand/finger disorder, left hand/finger disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, migraine headache, residuals of tonsillectomy, and shoulder disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examination opinions. The claims will be adjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but has remanded his bilateral hearing loss claim due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot condition, PTSD, and tinnitus cannot be readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The appeal concerning service connection for HIV has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.