Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine if hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have established service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The issues of psychiatric disability and flat feet are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his skin disorder, tinnitus, and hearing loss. The skin disorder was rated at 30 percent, while tinnitus and hearing loss were both rated at zero percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not show an increase in severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and generalized arthritis of the knees, feet, hands, back, hips, and legs. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of the maximum schedular rating (10%) for service-connected bilateral tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, and separate ratings for each ear are not allowed under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and chronic otitis media are being remanded due to further development requirements. The initial tinnitus evaluation of 10 percent is denied as the criteria do not meet for an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has determined that the RO's actions in reducing the disability evaluations of 100 percent for metastatic seminoma status post removal of the right testicle and seminoma metastasis to the liver were not in accordance with regulatory requirements, leading to a denial of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, and dismissed his claim for service connection for tinnitus. The decision also noted that the veteran had not provided additional evidence to support his individual unemployability (TDIU) claim.

The veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the law prohibits such a division of ratings under the current and previous versions of Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's claim for separate evaluations in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus in each ear was denied as the current rating criteria do not allow for such a division.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and ensuring compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, effective from October 24, 2002. The veteran's tinnitus is already rated at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus and sinusitis, but denied the claims for service connection for a neurological disability of the right arm and hypertension. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, finding that only a single 10 percent evaluation is assignable under current and prior regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent evaluation is appropriate as per current VA regulations.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.