Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The claim for adjustment disorder with anxiety has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or other specific conditions such as gout, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, or right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is causally related to his active service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current hearing disability and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tinnitus with BPPV, have combined to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful course of employment. The Board has granted TDIU for the period from April 15, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and a foot disorder due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in previous medical opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as his bilateral hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis (claimed as right knee injury in a fall), and left knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis (claimed as left knee chronic pain) are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no new and relevant evidence presented since the March 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several conditions, including migraines, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and psychiatric disorder, was denied. The rating for migraine headaches remains at 50 percent, the maximum allowed under current criteria. Ratings for other conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to failure to appear for a VA examination. The claim for tinnitus was granted as the Veteran reported experiencing symptoms during and after service. The Veteran's post vagotomy gastric surgery syndrome with pyloroplasty, duodenal ulcer and IBS was evaluated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7348.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, recurrent migraine and prostrating headaches, and sensorineural bilateral hearing loss due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a failure of the Veteran to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The claims will be addressed on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain private medical records and provide an adequate VA examination. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a new opinion, as the current one was inadequate.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal concerning increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, resulting in the dismissal of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for kidney disability and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, with no persuasive evidence to support his assertions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin during service or is related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

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