Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with AC joint sprain and lumbar spine arthritis are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding these conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that the hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred or aggravated in line of duty during active duty training (ADT) or inactive duty training (IDT).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mental health conditions and hearing loss, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and all manifestations are adequately considered under his schedular ratings.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran's left knee strain or sprain, right knee strain or sprain, lower back strain (lumbosacral strain), or migraines began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a combined effects opinion is necessary to sufficiently address the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, as his disability does not preclude him from ambulating independently and he has other nonservice-connected conditions that limit his ability to use assistive devices.

The Board has granted service connection for left 5th finger degenerative arthritis, left testicle pain, heartburn, and headache disorder. Service connection was denied for hearing loss in the right ear.

The Veteran's appeal for tinnitus was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, which initiated the appeal, did not identify a specific determination with which he disagreed and was filed outside of the one-year deadline.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot hallux valgus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a present disability in each condition that began during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active duty in 2005 and is related to noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral foot conditions, and hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined disability rating of 90%.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for all issues in the docket, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and continues to persist, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service due to lack of continuity of symptomatology within one year of discharge and insufficient evidence linking it to noise exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have these conditions and that any diagnosed disorders are caused by nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure, and her bilateral knee disabilities are related to in-service training exercises.

The Veteran's cardiac disability is caused by exposure to fuel in his military occupational specialty (MOS) in helicopter repair. The bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not caused by the Veteran's military noise exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraines, and hypertension is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service. The Veteran's STRs did not show complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions during service.