Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied, while his cervical degenerative arthritis and lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and DJD of the right elbow due to potential SSA records not being obtained.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a compensable disability rating.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the lower extremities and upper extremities was denied due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran does not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 2, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional information from his Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's stomach disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a service connection. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (COPD, PTSD, neck disability, bilateral knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss) precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from March 25, 2015 to December 13, 2021. As a result, he is granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left eye disability and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shoulder and knee disabilities prior to March 5, 2019, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding treatment records from Dr. Pontier at Audibel Hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 8, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is also denied, as the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to military service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on six separate conditions (right shoulder, right hand, left hand, right ankle, left ankle, and left ear hearing loss) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant records from federal custody.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis, and joint pain disability, to include lupus due to new evidence received after final decisions. The Veteran's testimony during a May 2024 Board hearing supports her claims.