Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hearing impairment was rated at 10% prior to July 1, 2019 and then increased to 20% thereafter. The claim for an increase in rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, which is presumed to be related to in-service noise exposure. The case will be reviewed with a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to consider certain relevant evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or chronicity in service. The Veteran's claims are based on noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the evidence does not show a compensable level of impairment.,Tinnitus is already evaluated at its maximum schedular rating of ten percent and no higher rating is available under the applicable criteria.,The acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder with mixed features of anxiety and depressed mood) is rated at fifty percent, which is the highest schedular rating available. The Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are considered to be equivalent to the level required for a 50% rating.,Service connection for neck pain was denied due to lack of evidence showing that cervical arthritis began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for headaches remains pending as the Board has remanded this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 10, 2004 for service connection due to a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in failing to convert his in-service audiograms from American Standard Association (ASA) to International Standards Organization (ISO). The Board found that the failure to properly convert the data did not significantly impact on the adjudicator's decision, as the Veteran had no hearing disability at the time of his separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder. The claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder tendinitis with history of recurrent dislocation are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent since January 27, 2026.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate factual premise in a previous VA opinion. The appellant served in the Tennessee National Guard for 38 years, including periods of active duty training (ADT). He testified that he was exposed to noise from artillery during his service.

The Veteran's appeal of the deferral of a decision for entitlement to service connection for a foot fungal condition is dismissed. Entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, migraines, and chronic sinusitis disabilities are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing disability is related to his in-service exposure to noise from firing devices.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent effective March 10, 2011.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 7, 2012 to February 8, 2025 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits for the same period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is related to his military service despite normal audiometric findings at separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).