Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and a 10% rating has been awarded.,For his thoracic strain, the Veteran received a 10% rating from August 30, 2024. The appeal for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for service connection for various conditions has been withdrawn by the Veteran. As a result, all these claims are dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The GERD claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,Service connection for GERD will be reconsidered, with a focus on determining whether it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service or aggravated by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The case will be returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to his service-connected disabilities and obesity.

The Veteran's MDD, recurrent, severe, with moderate anxious distress associated with tinnitus is rated as 70 percent disabling. The Board has found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered them unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU rating based on this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SAH or SHA grant eligibility due to lack of qualifying conditions such as ALS, blindness in both eyes, full thickness burns, loss of use of upper extremities, or permanent total disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because it was not timely filed, and no good cause for extension of time to file an appeal was shown.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his right ear hearing loss, head injury, right foot condition, and left foot condition are denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance is denied because the evidence does not show that he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was at least as likely as not incurred during active duty service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 15, 2019 for the grant of a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, low back pain, and left shoulder dislocation are pending.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, as it was incurred during service due to exposure to loud noise.,Service connection is denied for left knee patella tendon tear (status post repair), as the current condition did not have its onset during a period of honorable service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus, hemorrhoids, benign prostatic hyperplasia, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a back condition has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current disability is due to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and chronic headaches, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. Service connection was not established for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus began during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.