Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed under current regulations.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and arthritis of the hands, but granted the reopening of a claim for left knee disability based on new evidence. The veteran's current left knee condition is presumed to be related to his service-connected right knee.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed under current regulations.

The veteran's appeal for separate evaluations for tinnitus in each ear was denied as there is no legal basis to award a schedular evaluation in excess of the maximum available under VA regulations.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed under current regulations.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed under the applicable rating criteria, and thus no further increase in rating is warranted.

The Board has denied the veteran's request for separate initial schedular 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus as there is no provision in the applicable rating schedule for such a claim.

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

The veteran's initial claim for service connection for tinnitus was received in January 2003. The RO granted a single 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus, and the veteran appealed this decision to the Board. However, as there is no legal basis upon which to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, the veteran's appeal must be denied.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no higher. The appeal for a more than single 10 percent rating for tinnitus has been denied.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed under current regulations, so a higher rating cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for separate initial schedular 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the condition only warrants a single 10 percent rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the legal criteria for separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus in each ear, as the maximum rating available under current regulations is a single 10 percent evaluation. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the August 2001 rating decision which granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, as the veteran has failed to establish any kind of error of fact or law.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and no separate ratings for each ear are allowed under current regulations.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is properly evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

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