Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his exposure to aircraft noise during military service.

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

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for prostate cancer was also denied due to lack of evidence showing VA negligence or fault.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's tinnitus, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, disabilities of the heart, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his bilateral hearing loss has a noncompensable rating. The RO granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dental condition is not related to in-service trauma and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss and tinnitus issues are remanded for further development.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 40 percent effective December 20, 2000.,The veteran's cervical spine disability and right shoulder DJD were both granted initial ratings.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus that is related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that he did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vocal cord disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and vision loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, tendonitis of the shoulder, burn on left hand, and hearing loss were denied. The claim for fracture of right little finger was granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, or sinus condition during service or within one year after separation. The veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, and no additional rating can be granted.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during military service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not necessitate the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to attend to the activities of daily living.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for each ear for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings given the maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.