Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals due to untimely filing of the appeal requests, as no good cause was shown for the delay.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims are not granted as there is no current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of current diagnosis. However, it granted service connection for left ear hearing loss based on exposure to noise during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or a link to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is based on a lack of current disability, while the dismissal of the tinnitus claim is due to the grant of service connection in an earlier rating decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to bilateral hearing loss. The appeals for service connection for other conditions are remanded due to failure of the VA to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in an inability to dress or undress himself, adjust prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, and protect him from hazards. The VA is required to schedule a VA examination to assess whether SMC based on aid and attendance is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a link between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability under VA standards.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider any relevant private medical records and service department records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disorders, kidney disorder (nephrolithiasis), bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral eye conditions. The appeal was dismissed due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the issuance of the HLR rating decision currently on appeal. The Board will obtain a VA examination to determine whether his service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of either regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's abdominal pain, urination problems, and left ear hearing loss are all granted as service-connected.,Right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's kidney disability, left ear hearing loss, and service connection for allergic rhinitis are granted. The issue of an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The other issues of service connection are withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if the former service member's depression and cervical strain with multilevel cervical disc disease, as well as his multilevel thoracic disc disease, were incurred or aggravated during any period of active duty. The presumptions of soundness and aggravation do not apply due to lack of veteran status.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 21, 2024 for the award of SMC based on a need for A&A. The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not increase in severity within one year prior to this decision.