Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the condition is already assigned a single 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's claim for an initial, separate 10 percent rating for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied as the version of DC 6260 in effect prior to June 2003 precludes a schedular rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.

The veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for service-connected tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis for such a claim.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for an increased evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective October 1, 2004. The veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is currently rated at the maximum of 10 percent, and no separate ratings are allowed under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 21, 2001 for service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of a prior informal claim and noting that VA had no indication of tinnitus until May 2002.

The Board found that the June 1980 rating decision, which assigned a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected tinnitus, was not based upon clear and unmistakable error in failing to assign a separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus claimed as present in each ear. Therefore, the claim for that benefit is denied.

The veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected tinnitus is denied as per VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for separate initial schedular 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus was denied as the condition is assigned a single 10 percent disability rating under applicable legal authority.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the August 11, 1993 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent initial rating for bilateral tinnitus. The claim is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, and no further increase in disability ratings is warranted.

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

The veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in both ears is denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings given the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1992 and January 1995 rating decisions that granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating, as Diagnostic Code 6260 did not allow for separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied. The appeal of the issue regarding clear and unmistakable error in the June 1999 rating decision assigning an initial 10 percent rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1999 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating, as Diagnostic Code 6260 did not allow for separate ratings for each ear.

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