Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, finding that the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the relationship between the appellant's claimed conditions and his periods of active duty for training.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) as there is no evidence that the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, with no additional compensation granted.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260. The Board finds no legal basis for assigning a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a qualifying diagnosis of PTSD and there is insufficient evidence to verify an in-service stressor. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also not established as service-connected.

The veteran's increased rating claims for PTSD and tinnitus were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The cancer claims were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of March 1, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating available, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and no higher, as there is no legal basis for a separate evaluation in each ear.

The veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, United States Code is granted as he has been found to be rehabilitated and the occupation in which he previously completed training is deemed unsuitable due to his abilities and employment handicap.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor as a result of a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral tinnitus and residuals of a fracture of the scaphoid bone with degenerative joint disease of the right wrist was denied. The maximum schedular rating available for both conditions has been assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and right ear hearing loss. Service connection was granted for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum of 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is already rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria, and separate ratings for each ear are not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both granted in July 2003 with an effective date of October 25, 2002.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.