Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his current ratings are at their maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disease manifestation within one year post-service. The VA audiological report did not find a link between current tinnitus and active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have established bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, right eye injury residuals, right knee injury, and damage to chest wall muscle are pending as additional evidence may be submitted.

The Board has ordered a search for missing service medical records and requests the veteran to provide information about any private or VA care received since separation from active duty. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus should be June 20, 2001, based on a VA examination showing a relationship between the veteran's tinnitus and his period of service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating authorized under DC 6260. There is no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, neuralgia of the right arm, and tinnitus. The appeals are granted as new and material evidence was received.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10% has been assigned.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, so he cannot receive a separate rating for it.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, so a separate rating for each ear cannot be granted.

The veteran's appeal for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated at a maximum of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for assigning separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. His right foot scar claim is also being remanded.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an endocrine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his head injury, right knee, left knee, low back, and bilateral tinnitus conditions.