Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service. The claim for increased rating of dermatophytosis of the hands and feet is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and there is no evidence of a right knee disability related to service. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability are denied.

The veteran's disability compensation benefits are properly recouped due to his receipt of Special Separation Benefit (SSB) pay, as required by law.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung condition were not caused by his active military service from October 1962 to October 1964. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, to include separate ratings for each ear, was denied as there is no legal basis for such an increase.

The veteran's initial rating for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, concluding that there was no medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to service or noise exposure. The Board found that the veteran's personal statements about the onset of tinnitus were not sufficient to establish a nexus between service and the condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's right brachial plexus injury (major) and has also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no causal link between the veteran's current tinnitus and any incident of service, including acoustic trauma. The claim for reopening his lower back disorder was granted but denied on the merits due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned and no extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and the only competent medical opinion stated that the veteran's tinnitus is not related to service. Therefore, both claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating can be granted under current regulations.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and the Board finds no legal basis for separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected. The decision on left ear hearing loss is pending further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for tinnitus with a single 10% evaluation, as the applicable regulation at that time did not allow for separate evaluations for each ear.