Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim, including extraschedular consideration, is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The case should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,Claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have also been reopened and granted.

The ratings for the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and bilateral hearing loss were restored to their previous levels effective September 1, 2025.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for hearing loss was submitted on February 7, 2014. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at February 7, 2014, as the Veteran did not receive notification of the May 2014 rating decision denying his claim.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted on a direct basis.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee arthritis post total knee replacement, and right knee arthritis post total knee replacement have all been granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection has been established for both conditions based on direct evidence of a link to active service.

The Veteran's CLL claim is remanded for further development, including preparation of a TERA memorandum and an addendum medical opinion. The hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for muscles spasm due to trapezius muscle strain, hearing loss, and cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to September 25, 2020 and denied an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of proper notification and examination. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, rhinitis, sinusitis, anxiety, mood disorder, depression, or nightmares as there are no confirmed diagnoses at any point during her appeal period.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of left ring finger pain. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis, while his left ring finger pain claim is pending as no examination or medical opinion addressing its etiology has been provided.

The Veteran's PTSD alone precluded him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment, and he is granted TDIU. He also meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder dislocation, migraine headaches, left wrist ankylosis, insomnia, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic bronchitis, respiratory disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, widespread muscle pains, sinusitis, left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, right ear hearing loss, and a right shoulder disability have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for VA purposes in relation to these claims.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective December 2022.,Left great ingrown toenail residuals were denied a compensable rating.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, COPD, erectile dysfunction, and groin condition due to incomplete development of evidence.