Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned under the applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA audiometric examination to determine if the appellant's current hearing loss disability is related to his noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is assigned a maximum 10 percent disability rating, and the Board has determined that no higher rating is warranted under current VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his bilateral tinnitus is denied as the revised VA regulations do not allow separate ratings for each ear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The veteran's stressor allegations regarding a helicopter crash are also under review.

The veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for conjunctivitis was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for each ear for his service-connected tinnitus must be denied under both the old and current versions of DC 6260, as the version in effect prior to June 2003 precludes a schedular rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for service-connected tinnitus on the basis of involvement of each ear is denied as a matter of law.

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

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

The veteran's appeal was denied for the initial evaluation of tinnitus and service connection for a skin disorder. The hearing loss issue remains pending.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 1997 RO decision that granted service connection for tinnitus with a single 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's appeal for separate ratings for his service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied as the condition is assigned a single disability evaluation under VA regulations.

The veteran's tinnitus has already been assigned the highest possible rating of 10 percent, and there is no legal basis for assigning a higher rating.

The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating can be assigned.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260. The appeal for a higher evaluation has been denied as there is no legal basis to award separate ratings for each ear.