Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2006

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking current tinnitus to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected tinnitus, finding that a single 10% rating is the maximum allowed under current regulations.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied by the RO, and the Board upheld this decision. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is assigned for bilateral tinnitus.

The veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the condition is already assigned a single 10 percent rating.

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

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

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10% has been assigned, and there is no legal basis to award a separate rating for each ear.

The Board has determined that a rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating available under current regulations and diagnostic codes has been assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, and no further increase in ratings is granted.

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

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 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 claim for a separate 10 percent rating for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating available under current regulations has been upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, and there is no legal basis for a higher rating.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and chronic tinnitus must be denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and development of records, including for increased evaluations of his service-connected anxiety disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of brain concussion (including headaches).

The veteran is receiving a 10 percent schedular rating for bilateral tinnitus, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The legal criteria for separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for tinnitus in each ear are not met as a matter of law.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for assigning separate evaluations for each ear.

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