{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/tinnitus","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:29:22.728Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Tinnitus","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":63997,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":41.1,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":23.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":61.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":3699,"granted_pct":34,"denied_pct":21.9,"remanded_pct":29},{"year":2018,"issues":7766,"granted_pct":38.3,"denied_pct":26.6,"remanded_pct":24},{"year":2019,"issues":9527,"granted_pct":39.1,"denied_pct":29.6,"remanded_pct":22.8},{"year":2020,"issues":7465,"granted_pct":38.2,"denied_pct":28.1,"remanded_pct":24},{"year":2021,"issues":5455,"granted_pct":39.4,"denied_pct":23.4,"remanded_pct":25},{"year":2022,"issues":6176,"granted_pct":43,"denied_pct":21.4,"remanded_pct":24},{"year":2023,"issues":6831,"granted_pct":39.9,"denied_pct":23.3,"remanded_pct":24.1},{"year":2024,"issues":8263,"granted_pct":42.6,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":20.1},{"year":2025,"issues":8478,"granted_pct":37.7,"denied_pct":30.2,"remanded_pct":19.6},{"year":2026,"issues":3300,"granted_pct":44.6,"denied_pct":26.5,"remanded_pct":15.7}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":83.5,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":6361,"granted_pct_with":72,"granted_pct_without":60.3},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":49252,"granted_pct_with":63.2,"granted_pct_without":52.4},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":11657,"granted_pct_with":77.6,"granted_pct_without":57},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":39101,"granted_pct_with":66.8,"granted_pct_without":50},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":17674,"granted_pct_with":67.1,"granted_pct_without":59.2},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":1716,"granted_pct_with":70.9,"granted_pct_without":61.4},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":52020,"granted_pct_with":64.8,"granted_pct_without":34},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":1816,"granted_pct_with":76.9,"granted_pct_without":61.2},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":5654,"granted_pct_with":75.5,"granted_pct_without":60.1}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"in-service noise exposure conceded","decisions":3701},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":3560},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":2001},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":368},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":268},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":266}],"denied":[{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":3113},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2654},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":1746},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":1537},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":954},{"reason":"no legal basis for a higher rating","decisions":707}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040456","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Continuity of symptomatology since service; Presumed incurred in service; Positive treating physician opinion; Inadequate VA opinion"},{"case_id":"26005120","year":2026,"judge":"B. MULLINS","rationale":"Current disability with onset in service; Related to in-service noise exposure; Hazardous noise exposure conceded due to MOS; Benefit of the doubt resolved in veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26040484","year":2026,"judge":"DONNIE R. HACHEY","rationale":"Veteran's credible testimony of in-service onset and continuity of tinnitus; AOJ conceded in-service acoustic noise trauma; AOJ conceded current diagnosis of tinnitus"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040474","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN R. DOOLITTLE, II","rationale":"Maximum schedular rating for tinnitus is 10 percent per DC 6260; Federal Circuit precedent (Smith v. Nicholson) supports single rating limit; No legal basis for rating in excess of 10 percent"},{"case_id":"A26040479","year":2026,"judge":"MICHELLE L. KANE","rationale":"Denied as secondary to denied migraines/headaches; No current migraines/headaches established"},{"case_id":"A26040507","year":2026,"judge":"SHEREEN M. MARCUS","rationale":"Service records negative for tinnitus complaints; Veteran repeatedly denied tinnitus during examinations; Evidence persuasively weighs against service connection"}]},"how_va_rates":{"citation":"38 CFR 4.87","diagnostic_code":"6260","name":"Tinnitus, recurrent","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.87","levels":[{"criteria":"Tinnitus, recurrent","rating":10}],"notes":["Note (1): A separate evaluation for tinnitus may be combined with an evaluation under diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, 6204, or other diagnostic code, except when tinnitus supports an evaluation under one of those diagnostic codes.","Note (2): Assign only a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.","Note (3): Do not evaluate objective tinnitus (in which the sound is audible to other people and has a definable cause that may or may not be pathologic) under this diagnostic code, but evaluate it as part of any underlying condition causing it."]},"rules":[{"citation":"38 CFR 4.87","title":"Schedule of ratings: ear","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.87"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.2.B.1","title":"Service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, incl. Guard and Reserve duty","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000014464/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-2-Section-B-Conditions-of-the-Auditory-System"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.2.B.3","title":"Tinnitus: sympathetic reading, medical opinions, liberalizing provisions","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000014464/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-2-Section-B-Conditions-of-the-Auditory-System"}]}}