Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn and dismissed.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of entitlement to a higher rating based on the objective audiometric test results provided.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The evidence does not support an increased disability rating due to the lack of occupational and social impairment that would warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been denied as there is no finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective November 1, 2018, based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities. The initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the case to assign a combined disability rating for both ears. The initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional error in not addressing the theory of delayed onset hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for a supplemental opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and right hand constant pain. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left and right ear hearing loss. The decision on hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied due to lack of nexus to service. The Board found that the earliest effective date was April 27, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has granted the attorney's request for fees based on past-due benefits awarded in April 2024, which increased the Veteran's disability compensation rating from 10% to 40%. This decision was not the initial decision regarding service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, neck disability, right hand arthritis of fingers, left hand arthritis of fingers, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, and left foot arthritis of toes. The Board also remanded the issues regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.,The Board has denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and incontinence. The Board has also denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and TDIU was deemed timely due to good cause shown, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disability have been granted service connection as they are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, onset during service, and continuity of symptoms since then.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot since you are no longer seeking to dispute these determinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to a duty to assist error, and requests an additional VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of the disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since the January 2025 rating decision. The Board found that his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, stating he is already receiving the necessary treatment and benefits from VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it originated during active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the lack of evidence showing its presence during or after service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date of service connection for right ear hearing loss has been withdrawn. The claim for left ear hearing loss disability is denied as the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in the left ear for VA purposes.