Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD and tinnitus, as well as an earlier effective date for PTSD. The Veteran's private treatment records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI, PTSD with memory loss, seizures, IBS, tinnitus, and rhinitis have led to a need for regular aid and attendance. The Board has determined that the Veteran requires assistance in eating, personal hygiene including toileting and showering, and medication management due to his service-connected conditions. Therefore, SMC based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the benefit of doubt resolved in his favor.,His PFB does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating due to lack of skin involvement and no systemic therapy required.,Bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating based on current audiometric findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and insomnia. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service due to noise exposure during active duty. Insomnia is found to be related to the now service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left hand index finger fracture was denied as the disability is already at its maximum assigned rating.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, and no chronicity or continuity of symptomatology was established.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as insomnia), requiring a VA examiner to provide a nexus opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability as to either condition. The Board also found that the evidence does not support a relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for tinnitus, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has been established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's spouse applied for PCAFC benefits on the Veteran's behalf. The Board found that the Veteran requires personal care services due to a need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which his ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired. However, the AOJ must obtain an opinion as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program before making a final determination on eligibility.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 11, 2023 for the grant of service connection for GERD, chronic gastritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The SMC housebound and aid and attendance claims are denied due to lack of evidence showing the need for regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The initial rating for a left shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The claim for TDIU earlier than September 25, 2020 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and a traumatic brain injury condition are remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military noise exposure, while the evidence does not support a finding that his current bilateral hearing loss began during service or was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) and Tinnitus have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,For her eye disability, the claim has been remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has determined that the claim for eligibility to enroll in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to insufficient evidence and lack of proper notice. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a need for personal care services, but this determination was made without adequate medical justification or explanation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's PTSD is remanded for further development to determine if it warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need of personal care services, and his PCAFC request was denied. The Board finds that the AOJ did not provide proper notice and reasoning for the denial, and thus remands the case to obtain a new determination based on updated regulations.