Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, Neurocognitive Impairment, CFS, Chronic Pain Disorder, Neck and Upper Airway Disorder, Obesity, Nephropathy, Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Knee Disorder, Left Shoulder Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, Right Wrist Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PN), Hearing Loss, ED, and GU Disorder. The decision is based on the absence of a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his pulmonary fibrosis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to have begun during his active service.,Service connection is granted for migraine and tension headaches (headaches), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and heart condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are presumed related to noise exposure in service for hearing loss and presumed herbicide exposure for a heart condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss as he withdrew his claim in writing.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an adequate VA opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no current evidence of vertigo, genitourinary condition (claimed as urinary frequency), or bilateral lower extremity nerve condition related to service. The heart condition is currently diagnosed but the connection to service is denied.,Service connection for all conditions is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further review.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss effective October 26, 2023. The Veteran's right ear had a pure tone threshold of 77 decibels and speech recognition score of 76 percent, while his left ear had a pure tone threshold of 72 decibels and speech recognition score of 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ will obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the threshold requirement for consideration of schedular TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran is able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation despite his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) is also denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the audiometric test results showing mild hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at 0 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was evaluated at 0 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied.,Service connection for left leg numbness, sciatica numbness and pain was not granted as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no higher rating is warranted.