Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and normocytic anemia as secondary to service-connected chronic hemorrhoids. The claim of entitlement to service connection for left inguinal hernia is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus (claimed as flatfoot) are denied. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinea pedis (athlete's foot) and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea have been granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD has been remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to noise during military service.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted as service connected based on its presumptive link to his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2015, for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show actual worsening within one year prior to his March 2, 2015, claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities have been found to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service. The decision is based on the presumption of service connection for chronic diseases like tinnitus when they are manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, migraine headaches, hypertension, abnormal heartbeat, bilateral eye condition (sensitivity to light), erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, upper spine condition, lower back condition, skeletal arthritis of entire joint system, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition have all been denied.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for any of these conditions due to a lack of current disability or no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the rate of 50% for his service-connected conditions from April 20, 2020 to June 7, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his reported symptoms of ringing in his ears since service are credible and support a finding of continuity of symptomatology. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and persistence of tinnitus during service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions of tinnitus, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, and iron deficiency anemia as there is no evidence of any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis in service or after service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral flat foot due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). However, his claim is denied because he can still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder condition, thoracic condition, and CKD have been granted with effective dates of July 5, 2024, but no earlier. The Veteran also received a 30 percent rating for CKD as of October 6, 2025.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and hypertension due to insufficient medical evidence to determine a nexus between in-service noise exposure or use of ineffective ear plugs during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the appeal period. However, conflicting work history makes it impossible to determine his employment status during the period on appeal.