Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for separate disability ratings for service-connected tinnitus in each ear was denied as the regulations do not allow for such ratings.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability evaluations for each ear for his bilateral tinnitus, finding that such a rating is not allowed under current regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability evaluations for each ear for tinnitus, finding that such a rating is not allowed under current regulations.

The Board denied the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent evaluation is appropriate under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule).

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the current rating schedule only allows a single 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, regardless of whether it affects one or both ears.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with the effective date set at December 4, 1946, for hearing loss and March 10, 1976, for tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 3, 2000 for service connection for tinnitus was denied as the earliest possible effective date is the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and tinnitus as residuals of a spinal tap, loss of visual acuity, psychiatric disorder, disability of the back and legs, and hearing loss. The evidence submitted was deemed insufficient to reopen these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a need for further examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

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

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of the maximum schedular rating (10%) for service-connected bilateral tinnitus was denied. The Board found that a single 10% rating is appropriate under Diagnostic Code 6260, as any higher ratings are not available.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate compensable ratings for service-connected tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent rating is authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent evaluation for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the disability is already covered by the current rating criteria and no higher schedular evaluations are warranted.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the maximum allowable rating under current regulations is 10 percent and that separate ratings are not warranted as tinnitus is considered a single disability entity.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for each ear under Diagnostic Code 6260 (tinnitus) as such a rating is not available due to the maximum schedular evaluation already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the existing regulations do not allow for separate ratings for each ear.