Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, neck disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral shin disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral wrist disability due to a failure to provide proper notice of the right to a hearing before the RO.

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

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain, cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left ankle and knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss are rated accordingly. The effective date for the grant of service connection is denied prior to December 29, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims have also been denied.

The appeal as to the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, lumbar spine condition, LLE radiculopathy, RLE radiculopathy, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have a current disability of hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a Maryland CNC speech recognition score of 92% in the right ear and 96% in the left ear. The Board found that this level of hearing acuity does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and kidney disability due to a lack of current VA examination, failure to report for scheduled examinations, and inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on audiometric test results and functional impact.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 5, 2025, for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability and a noncompensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, and a scar of the occipital head were denied effective prior to March 9, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of March 9, 2021.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, thus remanding the case.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found no current disability related to bilateral hearing loss and concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis is granted a 60 percent rating. Service connection for HPV, bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, broken right ring finger, left hip, right hip, and right ankle disabilities are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including private treatment records, during its review.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, while left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from September 12, 2019 to January 2, 2023 due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depressive disorder, right elbow strain, left elbow strain, lumbago, bilateral hearing loss, and inguinal hernia have all been denied. Service connection has only been granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's tinnitus, gout in the right hand and bilateral lower extremities, and sleep apnea are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension, arthritis, neck condition, restless leg syndrome, sciatica, and back condition are denied service connection.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.