Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a determination of in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The scars of the scalp and forehead, right lower extremity, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated as they currently stand.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, unspecified depressive disorder (formerly PTSD), and skin condition (onychomycosis) are all granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, or establishing service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), deviated septum, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his symptoms are related to in-service noise exposure and resolving doubt in his favor.

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

The Veteran's claim for tension headaches was granted. Service connection is denied for hypertension, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, left elbow disability, hemorrhoids, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disabilities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder condition, hemorrhoids, tinnitus, perforated eardrums, and hearing loss do not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection at this time.

The Board has already granted the claim for left ear hearing loss and implemented this in a rating decision, so there is no pending appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder disabilities, upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy, elbow and wrist disabilities, hand/finger disabilities, hip and knee disabilities, ankle and foot disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss are all denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during or proximate to the appeal period.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims related to BPPV, bilateral hearing loss, and left eye condition.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted a 30 percent rating since May 25, 2022. His hearing loss and epididymo-orchitis have not been granted increased ratings.

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

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for vision disorder (allergic conjunctivitis).,Service connection is remanded for fibromyalgia and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar behind the left knee, an initial 20 percent evaluation for a low back disability prior to June 10, 2019, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and CTS of the left upper extremity, and service connection for a right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The case is remanded for further examination regarding bilateral peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. The appeal regarding generalize joint pain, left knee disability, and right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, left knee condition, right knee condition, and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's right ankle condition and GERD claims are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their relationship to service.