Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA compensation criteria. The claims for adjustment disorder, glenohumeral joint dislocation, limitation of motion, pain of the right ankle, sleep apnea, and pain of cervical and cervicothoracic regions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis and bilateral hearing loss are granted. A rating of 40 percent or higher for lumbar contusion with myositis and lumbar spondylosis, TDIU on April 30, 2014, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) on April 30, 2014, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy are granted. The appeal is remanded for further rating determinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, major depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, GERD, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's status post left inguinal hernia repair is rated as noncompensable, with no recurrence of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology from service or in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for broken left leg, left knee replacement, cervical spine condition, and back surgery were all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's right ankle condition with Achilles tendonitis and right foot condition have not been readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for sleep apnea is denied, and his request for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with vertigo and left ear hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of cerebellar gait.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been dismissed due to a violation of procedural requirements.

The Board denied the claim for TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claims for bilateral hearing loss and rhinitis were denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection was denied for traumatic brain injury, tuberculosis, umbilical hernia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include major depressive disorder), and a right eye disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted, with a maximum of 30 percent. The initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was withdrawn. His claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded his claims for service connection for right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his current right ear hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure and does not meet the criteria for a disability due to service-connected tinnitus or left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of adequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The lumbar spine disability rating issue is also being remanded for an updated examination.

The Board has determined that the remand instructions were not fully followed and thus the case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further development to verify the stressors reported during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right ankle, kidney, and heart disabilities are remanded for additional medical opinions.,No specific exposure basis is provided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to military noise exposure during active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection prior to June 27, 2024, for a genitourinary disability were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, low back disability, eye disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer, and SMC at the housebound rate due to deficiencies in obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.