Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the cases of a higher initial rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to outstanding treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to in-service noise exposure and meets the requirements of presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has decided the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss claim, denying it. The left wrist disability claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence that he filed a prior claim before June 2019, and his current claim was not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis meeting VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as there are issues with the decision and a need for further medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensable ratings for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, back disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, TBI, pes planus, COPD, and GERD. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia, IBS, or bilateral hearing loss during the period on review. Service connection is granted for tinnitus but denied for other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist, and a need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to May 6, 2024 and an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent disability rating. The claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition including osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and status-post lumbar laminectomy, and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hands. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a medical opinion and outstanding records.

The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was caused by his military service, and thus the case must be sent back for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches, but denied service connection for low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, voiding dysfunction, GERD, hypertension, OSA, and PTSD.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence is not in approximate balance.,Service connection for osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied due to lack of a showing of chronicity during service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has found the May 2019 VA examiner's opinion inadequate and requires an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions were incurred during active duty and periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been denied due to lack of factual evidence showing an increase in severity or onset prior to the specified dates.,Service connection has not been established for cervical spine bone spurs and degenerative arthritis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, with effective dates set at August 22, 2024.,An initial compensable rating of 10 percent was granted for hearing loss, but no higher rating is warranted.

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