Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for hearing loss prior to February 17, 2016 is denied. The effective date of the current 30 percent rating is set as February 17, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and a left ankle disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his lower back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's eye condition (dry eye) is not service-connected as it did not onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a link between current hearing loss and service. The Veteran's tinnitus, which may be related to his hearing loss, is not addressed separately here.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it developed in service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's acne (claimed as facial skin disorder) is not service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (claimed as lower back condition) is not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had noise exposure during service, which is sufficient to establish a direct link between her current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examination opinions. The claims will be adjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Board has decided that the claimant did not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disability or left ear hearing loss during the appeal period. The decision is remanded for further action regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.,Left ear hearing loss is granted, with the condition being service-connected due to exposure during active duty and worsening over time.,Service connection for reflux esophagitis with hiatal hernia is granted based on symptoms that began in-service and continue post-service.,Service connection for stenosis of the cervical spine is granted as it was likely caused by service, including combat duties.,Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted due to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Chronic fatigue syndrome is granted based on symptoms that began in-service and continue post-service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but has remanded his bilateral hearing loss claim due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to hazardous noise exposure during active service.

The appeal for sleep apnea is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,The appeals for migraine headaches and rheumatoid arthritis are granted to the extent that new evidence has been submitted, but service connection remains denied overall.,The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a full grant of benefits in prior decisions. Service connection is granted for left knee meniscus tear.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the severity of the condition not meeting the criteria under VA regulations.,Service connection was remanded for right hip arthritis and bilateral foot condition, as well as lower back pain. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as moot due to the concurrent grant of service connection in a previous rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety) was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes, right ankle tendonitis, and depressive disorder have been granted with effective dates of May 15, 2021. The rating assigned is 10% for right ankle tendonitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a recurrent sinus disability to include chronic sinusitis, a recurrent respiratory disability, and a recurrent cardiovascular disability. The Veteran's periods of active duty with the Missouri Army National Guard have not been verified.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hearing loss, leading to the dismissal of this claim.