Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2007

New evidence has been submitted that suggests the veteran served in Vietnam and may be related to his claimed conditions. The claims for service connection are being reopened.

The Board has denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's single 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus is the maximum allowed under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities result in his being substantially confined to his dwelling or immediate premises and such resultant confinement is likely to continue throughout his lifetime, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, so separate ratings for each ear are denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for an increased disability rating.

The appellant's claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear is denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA otolaryngologist's opinion on whether the veteran's current ear infections are related to his service.

The veteran's service connection for chronic tinnitus and right ankle sprain residuals is granted. Service connection for chronic hypertension is denied as not incurred in or aggravated by wartime service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because he is not considered to be in 'good health' due to his non-service-connected conditions, including osteoarthritis and hypertension.

The veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award separate ratings for each ear, and the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for an increased disability rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus, to include separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus, to include separate evaluations for each ear, is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, which covers both ears. Therefore, separate ratings for each ear are denied.