Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his hearing loss, tinnitus, maxillary sinusitis, and deviated nasal septum. The appeals were dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal regarding prosthetic devices and services and housing assistance.

The Board has ordered further development of the veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and incomplete information. The case will be returned to the RO for this purpose.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the effective date for his tinnitus rating was set at January 10, 2000. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board found that the February 1993 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his tinnitus was already at its maximum rating of 10%, bilateral hearing loss did not meet compensable criteria, external hemorrhoid had no active symptoms, spermatocele left side had no active pathology, pulmonary disorder did not show active pathology, right middle finger injury and osteophyte, dorsal right foot were not incurred in service, and neck pain was not established as a current condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the onset of his current hearing loss, lung disease, heart disease, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that it was incurred in service. The issues of sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a gastrointestinal disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a noncompensable evaluation.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected tinnitus, rated at 10 percent, is not entitled to a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for a separate evaluation in each ear.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already in effect. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was not addressed, as it requires additional development and review.

The veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and left otitis media were denied. The RO assigned a ten percent rating for the service-connected tinnitus but did not assign separate ratings for each ear as requested.

The veteran's service-connected tinnitus is manifested by recurrent symptoms in each ear, and he was assigned a 10 percent rating effective from September 15, 2001. The Board found that the claim for separate compensable evaluations for tinnitus in each ear is without legal merit due to VA policy prohibiting such ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus, finding that a single 10 percent rating is authorized under current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate 10 percent evaluations for each ear for bilateral tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent disability rating is authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete notification, need for medical examination, and other procedural issues.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for separate 10 percent ratings for tinnitus in each ear is denied as the maximum rating available under current VA regulations and diagnostic codes does not allow for such a division.