Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum 10 percent disability rating, which is the highest schedular rating available under current regulations. Therefore, an increased rating for tinnitus cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that there is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, and the March 1980 rating decision does not contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the August 2002 rating decision that granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective March 8, 2002. The decision concluded that Diagnostic Code 6260 did not support separate ratings for each ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claim that there was clear and unmistakable error with respect to a February 1981 rating decision for failing to grant a separate 10 percent evaluation for each ear for tinnitus. The RO assigned the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus under the version of Diagnostic Code 6260 then in effect.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral 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 10 percent rating, and there is no legal basis for separate ratings.

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 under Diagnostic Code 6260, which was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed as there is no legal basis for the assignment of separate 10 percent evaluations for tinnitus in each ear, given that he is only service-connected for right ear tinnitus.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to separate 10 percent disability ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as there is no legal basis upon which to award such ratings.

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 currently rated at the maximum of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10% is available under current regulations.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for the assignment of separate evaluations for each ear or an extraschedular evaluation.

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 under the applicable VA regulations and Diagnostic Code.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied his claim for an increased disability rating, finding that the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, including separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation greater than the maximum allowed under current regulations.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for the assignment of separate evaluations for each ear or an extraschedular evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria, and no additional compensation can be granted.