Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

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 tinnitus was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service disability or a relationship to service.

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

The veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for each ear for service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award such an evaluation.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already receiving the maximum disability rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent. Therefore, he is not entitled to a higher disability rating.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, so no higher rating can be granted.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error in the November 1999 rating decision that granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10 percent evaluation, finding no such error.

The veteran's claim for separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as a matter of law due to the interpretation of VA regulations by the Federal Circuit.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned under current regulations.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10% is already in effect.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including combat noise trauma.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10% has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically exposure to acoustic trauma during his time in Vietnam. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding noise exposure during service and the etiology of tinnitus.