Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 21, 2021 for the award of a total disability as due to individual unemployability (TDIU) because the criteria were not met within the one-year lookback period and there was no evidence of increased severity in his service-connected disabilities during that time.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further efforts to obtain them. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for these conditions under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, and back, right knee, and sinusitis conditions. Service connection was denied for bronchitis, hernia, loss of vision, and chest acne.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records from his period of active duty with the Navy Reserves. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and provide a formal finding of unavailability if they cannot be obtained.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for various skin conditions, hearing loss, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the conditions originated during active service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within a year of discharge, and the evidence does not support a nexus between the condition and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypothyroidism and remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and thus could not be considered aggravated.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss were granted effective December 31, 2013. The Board denied earlier effective dates as the evidence did not warrant such a change.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with a disability rating of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus has been resolved in full.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for hearing loss.

The appeal of the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and temporomandibular joint disorder is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with schizophrenia is denied.,The appeal of the issues of service connection for headaches, cervical spine condition, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left hip strain, and right hip strain is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claim for secondary service connection for headaches secondary to bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 40 percent rating, right knee and left knee disabilities are each granted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since September 6, 2023. The Board found that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now rated at a 70 percent disability rating for his psychiatric condition. The Veteran also received grants for the service connection of various disabilities including right hand carpal tunnel, left hand carpal tunnel, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee disorders and low back disorder, prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board found that the combined effects of these conditions made it impossible for the Veteran to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.