Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his income exceeded the poverty threshold for one person in 2017. The Board finds that he has sufficient work experience and training to perform other occupations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his active military service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, as he had administrative experience in the military.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities, does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability and tinnitus were dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not received within one year of the respective rating decisions, and no statement of good cause was provided.

The Board has remanded both issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's reported symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active service.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, high blood pressure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his military service, with the Board finding that the Veteran's reports of a continuity of symptoms since service are credible and outweigh the negative opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ulcerative colitis, but denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is also the maximum rating.,Service connection for back disability, headaches disability, insomnia disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded due to missing private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of consideration of potential delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran's representative argues that the VA examiner relied on a study regarding noise exposure, which should be addressed in the new opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure to hazardous noise during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Effective October 22, 2024, the Veteran is now entitled to a 100% rating for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is remanded as there are unresolved issues regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with effective dates of September 11, 2024, and November 20, 2025 respectively. The Veteran's claims were supported by evidence showing exposure to loud noise during service and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.