Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization for prostate surgery. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes during the pendency of the claim or proximate to it.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC), Left Wrist Degenerative Arthritis, and Bilateral Hearing Loss are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for lower back disability and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service as a fireman had a high probability for hazardous noise exposure, and his bilateral hearing loss is related to this exposure during service. After resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is warranted.

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

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding effective dates prior to April 13, 2020 for the grants of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 30, 2022 for the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal concerning a compensable disability rating for orchiopexy, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, anxiety and depression, bilateral knee pain, and lower back pain as they are already decided in another appeal stream.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the audiometric test results provided by private and VA audiological evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and sensory loss in the upper and lower extremities have been remanded due to new evidence. The claim for sensory loss and tingling in the face is also being remanded.,Service connection has not been granted for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The claims for tinnitus and right ankle injury were both granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as they were not timely appealed within one year of the November 2024 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or a right hand burn scar with underlying tissue damage, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The issues of entitlement to compensable evaluations for the right hand burn scars and the scar on the right hip are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether the current hearing loss disability arose during service or is otherwise related to service, including as due to noise exposure from his duties.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 6, 2023 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his anxiety disorder with situational phobia is remanded due to incomplete development.