The Board denied the veteran's claims for separate schedular 10 percent disability ratings for bilateral tinnitus and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle conditions. The appeal is based on a direct service connection theory.
The deciding factor: The changes to Diagnostic Code 6260 effective in June 2003 prohibited the assignment of separate ratings for tinnitus, but the veteran was entitled to application of the former Diagnostic Code prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Tinnitus, Left Ankle Condition, Left Shoulder Condition, Right Ankle Condition, Right Shoulder Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2005
- Citation
- 0501559
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 0501559.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, service connection for chronic sinusitis and bilateral tinnitus, granted a 50 percent initial rating for PTSD, and remanded the claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for a somatic disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.
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