Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not causally related to his military service due to lack of significant permanent shift in hearing thresholds from entrance to separation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of residuals of a head injury due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to military noise exposure and presuming continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's condition had its onset during active service and granting the benefit of the doubt.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions, finding that he was not precluded from obtaining and/or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of this decision.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The claim for service connection for a blood clotting disorder, secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), that is manifested by the use of a blood thinner, has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and/or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for further examination to determine his eligibility based on service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his painful and unstable scar of the anterior and posterior trunk is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the worst level of hearing acuity being Level I in both ears. The Board found that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, which satisfies the requirement for SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's need for regular aid and assistance from his wife to perform daily activities has been established.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted as new and relevant evidence had been submitted, supporting the connection between his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities substantially contributed to his death, and therefore grants service connection for cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable (0 percent).,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee pain, and right knee pain have all been granted.,Service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition is the primary cause of his bilateral knee and shoulder pain.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and irritable bowel syndrome due to the absence of evidence showing a link between these conditions and active military service. The hearing loss claim is also denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for impaired hearing under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining a copy of the Veteran's May 2023 audiogram and requesting an addendum opinion to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss.