Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show a current disability related to in-service noise exposure and that there was no continuity of symptomatology since discharge.

The Veteran's appeal concerning increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service-connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 16, 2024.

The Veteran was not found to be unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, as he had worked as a concrete finisher for at least two years during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate prior to January 14, 2022, as he did not meet the criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%.

The Board has denied service connection for left parietal meningioma and remanded the claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is now pending again due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability has warranted a total 100 percent rating since February 2, 2018. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as a lack of medical opinion on the etiology of her hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and provide an examination.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss. Effective dates are granted for service connection of right and left tibial stress fractures and shin splints back to February 1, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, lower back disability, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety disorder, insomnia, head pain (also claimed as sores on the head), and flat feet (also claimed as irritation feet) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal to extend the time to file a Board Appeal request for the March 8, 2024 rating decision was denied. The appeal is dismissed as untimely.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the earliest non-final claim did not show continuous pursuit of the original December 2021 claim.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches was granted, with the effective date set at December 4, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is capable of performing sedentary employment.

The Veteran's spouse, D.A., was added as a dependent for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran also received an increase in rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for further development regarding service connection for tinnitus, including its relationship to bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's MOS as a tank driver and his qualifications in firearms are also relevant to the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,Service connection was denied for anemia due to lack of causal relationship between current disability and in-service exposure.