Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

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

The veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in both ears is denied as there is no legal basis to award such ratings given the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1992 and January 1995 rating decisions that granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating, as Diagnostic Code 6260 did not allow for separate ratings for each ear.

The veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied. The appeal of the issue regarding clear and unmistakable error in the June 1999 rating decision assigning an initial 10 percent rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1999 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and assigned a 10 percent rating, as Diagnostic Code 6260 did not allow for separate ratings for each ear.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus and also denied his claim of clear and unmistakable error in the January 1991 rating decision assigning an initial 10 percent rating for tinnitus. The maximum schedular rating available under current regulations was assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed under the applicable rating criteria, and thus no additional compensation can be granted.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's testimony of ongoing tinnitus since service and his military specialty raise a doubt in favor of the claim. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error in an August 2002 rating decision that assigned a single, ten percent disability evaluation for bilateral tinnitus. The veteran appealed this decision, arguing that he should have received separate ratings for each ear due to recent legal developments. However, the Board found no CUE as the pre-1999 and pre-June 13, 2003 versions of Diagnostic Code 6260 required a single disability rating for tinnitus in both ears.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 17, 2005 for his TDIU due to lack of factual ascertainability prior to that date and because he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260, so a higher rating cannot be granted.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss, finding that no earlier unadjudicated formal or informal claims were received.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and depression, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

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

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a maximum 10 percent rating, and there is no legal basis for the assignment of an initial schedular evaluation in excess of this.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. There is no legal basis for an increased schedular evaluation.