Hearing loss decisions — 2026

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

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board also remanded the service connection claims for hypertension and kidney disease due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for skull loss, left side is denied as the area measured was smaller than a 25-cent piece. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss with vertigo and left ear otitis media does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and assigned a 50% rating, effective August 14, 2023. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss received a 40% rating, also effective August 14, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of adequate medical opinion and consideration of delayed-onset hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, to include on a presumptive basis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes and thus failing to meet the first element of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for right ear tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his conceded noise exposure during active service, but not to toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate examination.

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

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been granted with an effective date of October 6, 2022. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the tinnitus was a symptom of the hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence. The Board is unable to determine if there was a factual increase in disability prior to the effective dates requested, or if service connection should be granted based on the current evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals to reduce disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disabilities. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination regarding the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for dermatitis and sleep apnea have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining VA examination opinions prior to the June 2021 rating decision. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.