Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied, while the claim for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bronchial asthma, and hearing loss has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and hand conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing disability (including bilateral hearing loss and bilateral hyperacusis) and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her exposure to toxic substances during active duty.,

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has also remanded the cases of pes planus, post-operative right heel enthesophyte with spur, and right knee arthritis due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for status post fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone is denied as his symptoms are fully addressed under the current rating criteria.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,The Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted as the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active service is consistent with his military occupational specialty, and he has asserted continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 31, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, left and right neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The cases of left side and right side neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and GERD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to hazardous noise exposure during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of SMC was denied as he does not meet the criteria for any additional levels of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay testimony and medical evidence, with no presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has completed high school and one year of college, worked for over twenty years in the same position without any problems, and is retired. Therefore, TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disease secondary to Hepatitis C, and PTSD are granted. Service connection for a gunshot/flare wound of the right leg is denied. A 60 percent rating for Hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of tinnitus and a right-hand ligament disorder was dismissed due to untimeliness.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of thoracic strain with right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as they are related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and blurry vision (claimed as a bilateral eye condition) are denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Tinnitus was granted as the Veteran has provided credible testimony and medical evidence linking his tinnitus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing. The claim for service connection for tinnitus will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260, which is the maximum schedular rating available for recurrent tinnitus. The Board found that the symptoms are adequately contemplated by the current rating criteria and therefore denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his dementia, which is not service-connected.