Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their initial onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the lack of a current disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding missing National Guard service records and incomplete VA audiological opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, PFB, and an earlier effective date for service connection of PFB.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for sciatica nerve pain is remanded.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to military noise exposure and there is no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 8, 2023 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability severity before this date. For the earlier effective date claim, the Board determined there was no ascertainable worsening of the Veteran's condition within one year prior to May 6, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder, gout, multiple painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and pharyngitis were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the audiometric results did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA standards.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has resulted in an effective date of April 7, 2022 for the award of TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The rating for obstructive sleep apnea was also granted on this date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss are denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Given the grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, the Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.

The Board dismissed the appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in May 2024, as the appellant was eligible but his claim is moot due to a calculation error and no case or controversy remains.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 80% rating for bilateral hearing loss as his condition did not show improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.