The Board denied an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's service-connected tinnitus warrants a single 10 percent rating since September 1, 2000.
The deciding factor: The revised rating criteria did not produce retroactive effects and applied to the veteran's case as of June 13, 2003. The Board found that tinnitus is a single disease entity and thus only one evaluation for recurrent tinnitus can be assigned regardless of whether it is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot disability, headaches, vertigo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2003
- Citation
- 0335639
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 0335639.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and vertigo. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.
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