Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bronchial asthma, and hearing loss has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and hand conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing disability (including bilateral hearing loss and bilateral hyperacusis) and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her exposure to toxic substances during active duty.,

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that it does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on VA medical examinations and speech recognition testing.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for status post fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone is denied as his symptoms are fully addressed under the current rating criteria.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not granted because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss in either ear and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,The Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted as the Veteran's reported noise exposure during active service is consistent with his military occupational specialty, and he has asserted continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 31, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for hearing loss, right ear, but the claim is still pending as no rating has been assigned yet.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of SMC was denied as he does not meet the criteria for any additional levels of SMC based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay testimony and medical evidence, with no presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis. Service connection for CFS and fibromyalgia is denied due to lack of objective evidence meeting the criteria.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disease secondary to Hepatitis C, and PTSD are granted. Service connection for a gunshot/flare wound of the right leg is denied. A 60 percent rating for Hepatitis C is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals as untimely due to failure to file a proper Notice of Disagreement within one year from the date of the March 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as they are related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied it for left ear hearing loss. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and blurry vision (claimed as a bilateral eye condition) are denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,Tinnitus was granted as the Veteran has provided credible testimony and medical evidence linking his tinnitus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. A new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for Covid-19 due to an error in the AOJ decision.,For the claims of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, the evidence is neither evenly balanced nor approximately so with regard to whether service connection is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence, including failure to schedule examinations as required by law.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left and right ear hearing loss due to a lack of proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.