Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to readjudicate his claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied these claims. The claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete information regarding her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The AOJ is required to verify these periods and obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted, but his right ear hearing loss and right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran's right clavicle, scapula, AC joint and sternoclavicular joint conditions are granted a 20 percent rating, while allergic rhinitis, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, left knee strain, right knee strain, bilateral hip disability, and low back disability are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, finding that his preexisting condition was aggravated by noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected, with no specific date provided.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted, while his claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are denied. The Board also notes that the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current diagnosis and a qualifying event (noise exposure during military service) are established. The only remaining issue was whether there is a nexus between the in-service noise exposure and the current hearing loss. Given the Veteran's lay testimony about extreme noise exposure and lack of hearing protection, as well as the private medical opinion linking the hearing loss to his military service, the Board found it reasonable that the Veteran's hearing loss is due to his conceded noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted, with the highest assigned rating being 30 percent.

The appeal for a higher rating for radiculopathy left lower extremity and right lower extremity is dismissed.,The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as already pending in the legacy system.,The appeal for TDIU prior to April 4, 2018, is dismissed as already pending in the legacy system.,The claim for a compensable rating for a scar on the back is dismissed.

The appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected hearing loss is dismissed. An initial 30 percent disability rating for asbestosis is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began in service and has continued to the present.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss (BHL) was denied as there is no evidence of current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. A new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the presumption that it was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection for a head injury, right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot cold injury, migraines, and right ear hearing loss are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is also dismissed.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and bilateral knee conditions are dismissed.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar condition, bilateral hip conditions, and a right foot cold injury are remanded.

Your service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus have been granted in a January 2026 Board Decision. However, the appeal is dismissed as moot because the benefits requested have already been awarded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in the February 2025 rating decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed again with a new audiometric evaluation and medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, particularly concerning whether they were aggravated by service or related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.