Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing acuity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of his service treatment records and unclear representation information.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and tendonitis, including as secondary to right ankle Achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus onset during his military service.,Service connection for herpes was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the condition to active duty.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to a duty-to-assist error, including obtaining private treatment records from the Veteran's nursing facility.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorders. His bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome are denied, with the Board finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA examination opinion. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is being reviewed for its relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability had onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for a non-initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the requirements for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a lack of an adequate VA opinion. The Board requests an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist to address whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active-duty service, including acknowledged military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's present diagnosis and in-service noise exposure are sufficient to meet all elements of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as non-compensable.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder, fibromyalgia, IBS/functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain & bloating, respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), and migraine headaches are all denied.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated based on the severity of her bilateral hearing impairment as measured by audiometric testing. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions and exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability meeting VA compensation criteria.