Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2005

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that it was incurred in service. The issues of sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a gastrointestinal disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a noncompensable evaluation.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected tinnitus, rated at 10 percent, is not entitled to a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for a separate evaluation in each ear.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already in effect. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was not addressed, as it requires additional development and review.

The veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and left otitis media were denied. The RO assigned a ten percent rating for the service-connected tinnitus but did not assign separate ratings for each ear as requested.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is manifested by recurrent symptoms in each ear, and he was assigned a 10 percent rating effective from September 15, 2001. The Board found that the claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear is without legal merit due to VA policy prohibiting such ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating is authorized under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear for bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent disability rating is authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete notification, need for medical examination, and other procedural issues.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the maximum rating available under current VA regulations and diagnostic codes does not allow for such a division.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tinnitus, finding that the law does not allow for separate ratings for each ear and that there is no legal basis for such a claim.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that he had persistent tinnitus prior to May 27, 1998.