The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, mixed deafness of the right ear, and bilateral chronic otitis media with chronic mastoiditis were denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for each condition.
The deciding factor: The pre-2003 version of Diagnostic Code 6260 required dual ratings for bilateral tinnitus, but the current regulation does not allow for such. The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss is rated at 10% in one ear and the other ear has nonservice-connected deafness.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral tinnitus, Mixed deafness of the right ear, Bilateral chronic otitis media with chronic mastoiditis, status post right mastoidectomy with recurrent cholesteatoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2011
- Citation
- 1116142
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1116142.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that his in-service exposure to hazardous noise caused his current condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 26, 2017 for the award of TDIU due to service-connected psychiatric disability and an earlier effective date of November 9, 2018 for the award of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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