Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date for the grant of service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was set at February 12, 2000.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, and special monthly compensation for aid and attendance/housebound status.,The veteran's service-connected conditions include left ankle fracture, deep vein thrombosis of the left leg, hypertension, tinnitus, abdominal aortic aneurysm (right iliac aneurysm, left iliac aneurysm), and bilateral hearing loss. The maximum schedular evaluation for his left ankle fracture is 20 percent.,The veteran's combined rating from all service-connected disabilities is 40 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from COPD. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking any of the veteran's service-connected conditions to his post-service dementia, which contributed to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no causal link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear for bilateral tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation available under all applicable VA regulations has already been assigned.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing on his claim for tinnitus, as well as the issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned the maximum schedular rating available, and there is no legal basis for a higher evaluation.

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

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

The Board found that the July 2001 and February 2003 rating decisions, which granted a single 10 percent evaluation for bilateral tinnitus, were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular evaluation authorized under all applicable VA regulations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for tinnitus with a single 10% evaluation, as per the applicable regulations at that time.

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

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 a higher rating.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during military service.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned the maximum schedular rating available (10 percent), and there is no legal basis for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted, but the effective date for tinnitus is set at August 27, 2002. The effective date for the 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss is set at February 2, 1979.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260. There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus.