Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

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

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, which is the highest possible under Diagnostic Code 6260. Therefore, a separate compensable evaluation for each ear cannot be granted.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is properly evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and a rating in excess of this is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The appeal for a higher rating is denied as there are no legal grounds to award separate ratings for each ear, and no factors warranting extraschedular consideration have been presented.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

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

The veteran's tinnitus disability is already rated at the maximum allowed under VA rating criteria, and thus no additional ratings can be granted.

The veteran's request for separate evaluations for each ear with regard to his service-connected tinnitus disability was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of such ratings. The current single 10 percent evaluation assigned to tinnitus disability is the maximum under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the condition only warrants a single 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating available (10%) has already been assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for each ear is denied.

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

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

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the condition only warrants a single 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's request for an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for each ear.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation was denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

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 bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum disability rating of 10 percent, and therefore no legal basis exists for a separate schedular evaluation in each ear.