Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected. The other issues are remanded for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the lack of a current disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding missing National Guard service records and incomplete VA audiological opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, aortic dissection, and hypertension due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset and causation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for sciatica nerve pain is remanded.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and that there is at least approximate balance of evidence supporting this relationship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, OSA, and a low back disability must be remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has resulted in an effective date of April 7, 2022 for the award of TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The rating for obstructive sleep apnea was also granted on this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of tinnitus in service or within one year thereafter and that it is not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing this theory. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Given the grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, the Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The appeal for a compensable rating for acne vulgaris is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left foot disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.

The Board dismissed the appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in May 2024, as the appellant was eligible but his claim is moot due to a calculation error and no case or controversy remains.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted. The case is remanded for additional development related to the claims of service connection for OSA, IBS, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, and neck condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.