Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, and TIA, rendered her unemployable from July 29, 2008, to May 5, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and statement of reasons and bases. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now subject to further review with a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and insufficient medical opinion regarding direct service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's lay statements about noise exposure during service are considered, but an audiologist is needed to provide a comprehensive opinion on the etiology of his hearing disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the decision-making process regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. The remand requires a new examination and medical opinion to address the significance of audiometric findings during service, including significant threshold shifts.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision regarding service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's representative provided additional evidence that was not considered, and a new opinion is needed from an appropriately qualified clinician.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of hearing loss and lumbar strain due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and related neuropathies have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 21, 2018. The effective date for the TDIU is set as of that date.

The Board has found duty to assist errors and remands the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and addressing the Veteran's homelessness.

The appeal of the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the Veteran did not file a timely appeal and the claim was previously denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for bilateral hearing loss, effective August 5, 2024.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support a finding that his current hearing loss disability was caused by or incurred in service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for left ear hearing loss and hypertension, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left hand and right foot disabilities due to a concurrent appeal in the Legacy system. The Veteran's bilateral vision disability claim is remanded as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right lower extremity neurological conditions, and thyroid condition. The Veteran's claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption of exposure or secondary to another condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty-to-assist error in the VA examination report. The Veteran is presumed credible, and his contentions may not be found non-credible solely due to a lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus), an in-service event (noise exposure during military service), and a causal relationship between his disabilities and service.