The Board granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for tinnitus and found that the veteran is entitled to a separate evaluation for right ear mixed hearing loss prior to February 8, 2000. The decision also addressed issues related to increased ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Court's interpretation in Smith v. Principi established that 'recurrent' tinnitus meets the criteria of Diagnostic Code 6260 and warrants a rating of 10 percent effective from February 8, 2000. The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was recurrent rather than persistent as required by pre-1999 Diagnostic Code 6260.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, right ear mixed hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0318293
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0318293.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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