The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for recurrent tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with bronchitis is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent for recurrent tinnitus has been assigned.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected recurrent tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260 (10% rating), thus no higher evaluation can be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss prior to September 30, 2013 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, residuals of thoracoplasty three rib with partial resection of three lobes of the right lung, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2015
- Citation
- 1554375
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1554375.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion on whether the Veteran's recurrent tinnitus is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises prior to his death, granting entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status for accrued purposes.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for recurrent tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further development and examination.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed as the Board Appeal request was not timely filed.
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