Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and endometriosis as there is no current disability found in the record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pleural plaques (asbestosis) associated with TERA participation are currently rated at 20 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent respectively. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings in each of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the August 1989 rating decision, which denied service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is now granted as a result of exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

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

The Board has granted an effective date of October 6, 2010 for the Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on his need for aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection in a January 2023 rating decision. The claims for right hand arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's MOS as a mason is associated with noise exposure, but the VA examiner did not address direct service connection or provide adequate rationale for the opinion on symptoms related to hearing loss.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's daughter, including a claim for anal fistula, right knee injury residuals, left ear hearing loss, and valvular heart disease. The decision also notes that no fiduciary was appointed on behalf of the Appellant due to her adoption.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), finding that there is no medical evidence to support a claim of causation or aggravation by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish BPPV as secondary to diabetes mellitus, which the Veteran does not have.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, as they are related to in-service noise exposure.,Peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities has also been granted service connection, as it is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) were denied because there was no evidence of a current disability.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.,Service connection for left hand condition and right hand condition has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim(s) at this time.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right foot disorder are granted service connection. The Board has also remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, and neck disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Hearing Loss, as well as service connection for Sciatica, Right Side, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 30 percent for Generalized Anxiety Disorder or a compensable rating for Hearing Loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right shoulder pain, a left ankle condition, cervical spine pain, respiratory issues, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examinations.,Incomplete service treatment records are noted, which may affect the determination of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee arthralgia, and right ankle condition have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been established for VA purposes. An initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted.