Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because there was no explicit or implicit claim for TDIU at the time of the August 2022 decision, and the Veteran's employment ended due to company downsizing. The effective date is set at January 24, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of probative value in the December 2019 VA audiological examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's right ankle posterior malleolus fracture deformity and left ankle strain residuals, as well as for consideration of a TDIU. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination regarding various service-connected conditions, including left knee, shoulder, hip, ED, OSA, skin condition (dystrophic toenails), and lung condition (COPD). The effective date of service connection remains August 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate etiology opinion in the previous decision, and a new VA medical addendum is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the Board found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim was granted.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, insomnia disorder, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbosacral strain, labyrinthitis with paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot pain, right foot pain, right knee strain, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 20% disability rating for lumbar radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and a compensable disability rating for the lumbar trunk scar.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to have been manifested by auditory acuity equivalent to a compensable rating, and therefore the claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service noise exposure are sufficient to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for back, skin, and jaw conditions were denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to support a finding of service connection or entitlement to increased ratings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to tinnitus, right hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and vertigo. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result of the Veteran's withdrawal.