Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected restrictive airway disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation. The issue of tinnitus was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no current evidence of a disability for VA purposes, and the medical opinion provided does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied because there is no legal basis to award a separate schedular evaluation for tinnitus in each ear. The issue of what evaluation is warranted from February 5, 2004, for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the November 2001 rating decision assigning a single 10 percent rating for tinnitus, as the correct facts were known at that time and the law was properly applied. The veteran's claim of entitlement to separate ratings for tinnitus perceived in each ear is denied as a matter of law.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable rating for the initial evaluation of tinnitus, but granted an increased rating to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent, PTSD was not established as a separate condition, arteriosclerotic heart disease was not related to service, tinnitus was not diagnosed, and there were no new and material evidence found for the claim of migraine headaches. The veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder did not preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for idiopathic thrombocytic purpura from June 30, 1999, through July 7, 2005, and to an initial compensable rating from January 20, 2006, is denied. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned the maximum schedular rating available, and an increased evaluation is denied.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent evaluation, the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is already rated at the maximum allowed under VA rating criteria, and no separate ratings for each ear are warranted.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260. There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is a result of noise exposure during service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his exposure to aircraft noise during military service.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for prostate cancer was also denied due to lack of evidence showing VA negligence or fault.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's tinnitus, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, disabilities of the heart, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.