Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection, with the Board finding that his headaches started during active duty and have persisted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 4, 2021 for service connection for hypertension on a facts-found basis. The reduction in the rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied as it was not based on evidence of improvement.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and the issues of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Migraines, and Bilateral Hearing Loss have been remanded. The issue of service connection for Cervical Strain is not currently before the Board.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for gastritis is denied.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), effective April 1, 2025. The decision was made due to the absence of clear and convincing evidence that the Veteran had sustained gainful employment in 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, dermatosis of the arms and legs, and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were granted for an initial rating of 20 percent for right knee patellar instability with bursitis and retro patellar pain syndrome with limitation of flexion, but denied for more than 20 percent in both knees. Other issues were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right arm/shoulder disability. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony about his duties during active duty service and a private medical opinion that supports the connection between his military service and his current disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip femoroacetabular joint osteoarthritis with avascular necrosis (right hip disability) and lumbar strain with degenerative changes (lower back disability).

The appeal pertaining to the issues of asthma and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, due to service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the private audiologist's report regarding the use of the Maryland CNC test.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and his claim for service connection for migraine headaches have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims, including insufficient medical evidence linking current conditions to service or toxic exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not currently diagnosed, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for a left lower extremity nerve condition is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the VA finding that his hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating based on audiometric testing results.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been readjudicated, and the effective dates for his service-connected disabilities are set at April 29, 2003.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The Board found that his hearing was Level I in both ears, which corresponds to a 0 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate examination and conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not being granted earlier than November 25, 2019.