Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between current hypertension or hearing loss and service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right knee condition are denied as service connection is not established.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are remanded due to potential errors in assessing medication effects.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. Service connection was granted for left knee strain and right knee strain.,Service connection for cold exposure of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a collarbone disability, were not established.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 50 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, from June 1, 2025, is granted. The appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and the TDIU claim are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between the current hearing loss disabilities and in-service noise or toxin exposure.

The appeal seeking a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is also dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, finding the evidence at least in equipoise and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals seeking initial ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, back condition, right knee condition, right foot condition, and neck condition have been dismissed as they are pending in a concurrent legacy appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-chiasmal disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no medical nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, nor did he have continuous symptomology since separation from service.

The Board denied eligibility for attorney fees as the June 2024 TDIU decision was not an initial decision on service connection claims, but rather a determination of unemployability based on previously granted conditions.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on March 3, 2022 is denied as the treatment was not authorized by VA and did not meet the prudent layperson definition of an emergency.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to have started during his service due to exposure to noise, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, status post right eyebrow laceration scar, headaches, and left ankle deltoid ligament sprain. The Veteran's mental health issues were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and duodenal ulcer have been dismissed as the appeal was made concurrently with a previously pending supplemental claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss claim for VA purposes is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee arthritis, OSA, and bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain VA examinations.