Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, dermatosis on back and ears, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder condition due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military noise exposure and service connection for this condition has been granted. The claim of service connection for residuals of adenocarcinoma of the left parotid gland is remanded due to potential toxic exposure risk activity.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of coronary artery disease is remanded due to inadequate examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss are remanded as the VA examination was not conducted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective June 13, 2023. The effective date is fixed at the date of claim (June 13, 2022) as there is no earlier entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to failure to notify and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disability in either ear, and the Veteran's STRs do not document any acoustic trauma or hearing loss.,The Board also found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have a causal relationship to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent prior to January 25, 2022 and 30 percent from January 25, 2022. The Board denied both requests for higher ratings.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right groin injury and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability or in-service event, injury, or disease associated with these conditions.

The appeal for restoring the 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because it was already resolved in a parallel Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeal stream.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes in either ear, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of depression, sleep issues condition, sinusitis, right wrist condition pain and numbness, right hand with trigger finger, mood changes (claimed as memory and concentration condition), bilateral hearing loss, and anxiety due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had onset in service and persisted since, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. However, his hearing loss does not meet the VA definition of a compensable disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, neck condition, and left thumb scar were all granted. The decision also noted that the Veteran does not have a current cognizable hearing loss disability or a current neck disability. Service connection was established for the left thumb scar.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory criteria.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure and reasonable doubt.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in February 2020 was inadequate and remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence received after the September 2023 supplemental claim decision supports readjudicating the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee pain, right knee pain, and a back disability. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, these issues are remanded for further development.

Your appeals for bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition have been dismissed because you did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement in response to the July 2022 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, effective February 22, 2022.