Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his bilateral tinnitus is denied as the revised VA regulations do not allow separate ratings for each ear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The veteran's stressor allegations regarding a helicopter crash are also under review.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for conjunctivitis was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied under both the old and current versions of DC 6260, as the version in effect prior to June 2003 precludes a schedular rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for service-connected tinnitus on the basis of involvement of each ear is denied as a matter of law.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for the assignment of a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under DC 6260. There is no legal basis for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal was denied for the initial evaluation of tinnitus and service connection for a skin disorder. The hearing loss issue remains pending.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 1997 RO decision that granted service connection for tinnitus with a single 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's appeal for separate ratings for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied as the condition is assigned a single disability evaluation under VA regulations.

The veteran's tinnitus has already been assigned the highest possible rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for assigning a higher rating.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating can be assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260. The appeal for a higher evaluation has been denied as there is no legal basis to award separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's request for a more than 10 percent rating for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, to include entitlement to separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum of 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claim for an increased evaluation has been denied as there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for bilateral tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Board finds that there is no legal basis for an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, to include entitlement to separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned.