Hearing loss decisions — 2026

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

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. § 1114 subsections (n) and (o) due to multiple service-connected disabilities independently rated at 50 percent or more.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of major depressive disorder and unspecified bipolar disorder and alcohol use (claimed as PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD as there were errors in obtaining medical opinions related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay testimony and medical opinions, with no direct evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and no rating or effective date is assigned as this is an appeal for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, with the Board finding a relationship between his in-service acoustic trauma and current symptoms.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss is not related to service, including noise exposure during service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing a compensable degree of hearing loss within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals, including those for a higher rating for adjustment disorder and service connection for hearing loss and bilateral knees. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and a failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during active-duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, right leg, and left leg disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to injuries sustained during parachute jumps in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied because the evidence does not show the presence of a current disability that meets the definition of a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's vertigo has been granted service connection, with the Board finding it plausible that his symptoms began during service and have continued since then.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted but an increased rating beyond 10 percent is denied as there are no polyps present. The current disability more nearly approximates a 10 percent rating based on hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates.,The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for tendonitis of the right and left wrists remains denied, with the Board finding that the evidence does not support ankylosis or loss of use of the hands.,The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for tendonitis of the right and left wrists remains denied, with the Board finding that the evidence does not support ankylosis or loss of use of the hands.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and conducting a VA examination for BPPV. The Veteran's BPPV needs to be evaluated to determine if it is caused by or worsened by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of hyperthyroidism is remanded.