Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that November 6, 2001 is the correct date.,The Board also granted an earlier effective date of September 6, 2002 for the grant of service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right foot and lower right leg.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding no etiological relationship between his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma and his current tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a gastrointestinal disability, and arteriosclerotic heart disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to a lack of timely filed Substantive Appeal on the matter of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating for these conditions.

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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss effective from August 23, 2002.,An effective date of October 1, 2001, was assigned for the veteran's award of a 10 percent disability evaluation for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, headache disorder (claimed as secondary to tinnitus), vertigo, or sinusitis.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which is the highest available. As such, he cannot be granted separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus.

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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is already rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is denied.

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 Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in each ear, finding no legal basis to award such ratings based on VA regulations and precedent.

The veteran's tinnitus disability is already rated at the maximum allowed under VA rating criteria, and thus no additional ratings can be granted.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is already assigned the maximum rating of 10 percent, which is the highest available under Diagnostic Code 6260. Therefore, a separate schedular 10 percent rating for each ear cannot be granted.

The Board found that separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus are not warranted under the current regulations and precedent cases. The veteran's claim was denied because the regulatory change did not provide for retroactive application of a different interpretation of Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under DC 6260. The Board denied the request for an increased rating as there is no provision for separate ratings for each ear.

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

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