Ellis C. Smith v. R. James Nicholson

ORDER

Veteran Ellis C. Smith appeals through counsel a December 12, 2000, decision of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) that, inter alia, granted a disability rating of 10% (but no higher) effective from June 10, 1999, for his service-connected tinnitus pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.87, Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260 (2002), but denied a com-pensable rating prior to that date. This Court (1) vacated the Board decision to the extent that it denied a compensable rating for tinnitus prior to June 10, 1999, because the Board did not provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases for its…