Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus condition began during service and has continued since then, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was caused by service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. The Board also granted service connection for OSA in this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate evidence and duty-to-assist errors.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's right big toe hallux valgus claim remains pending and will be remanded.,The claims of service connection for sinusitis and lumbar strain (claimed as back injury) are also pending and will be remanded due to insufficient rationale in the prior VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, left and right knees, and bilateral feet due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Meniere's syndrome with hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination records and treatment records from non-VA providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and is related to in-service acoustic trauma, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability within one year of separation from service and the VA examiner found no etiological link between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.,The Veteran's frostbite of the bilateral feet is denied as there is no current diagnosis of cold injuries, only peripheral artery disease and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection, while his obesity was denied. Other conditions related to the ankles, hands, and knees were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to her military noise exposure during active service.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 15, 2017 for the award of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus. This decision corrects a previous error in not recognizing the Veteran's intent to file a claim on February 16, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate examinations and failure to notify the Veteran of VA treatment records. The claims for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, right ankle disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural issues with the August 6, 2020 VA Form 9. The case of timeliness of the August 6, 2020 VA Form 9 was denied as untimely.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and bilateral knee conditions, have precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the period beginning April 5, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a skin disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military noise exposure.