Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including TMJ, a bilateral feet disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, hearing loss, sleep apnea, and IBS. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's SMC was granted at the intermediate level between 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) and (n) due to additional disabilities including peripheral neuropathies, tinnitus, hearing loss, and lymphoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 27, 2018.,Prior to March 27, 2018, the evidence of record did not persuasively weigh in favor of finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the conditions did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss due to an internal inconsistency in the VA examination.

The Veteran's OSA and migraines are granted as service-connected.,The rating for GERD is restored to 30%, and the initial PTSD rating is granted at 100%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered them unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 6, 2024. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing that their symptoms from these conditions interfere with employment.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial staged ratings for an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed due to the doctrine of res judicata.,The issue of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been fully adjudicated and is dismissed as there are no remaining questions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating for his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, and right ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left hand injury, kidney stones, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and fatty liver disease were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, to include on an extraschedular basis, is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss is fully addressed by the rating criteria under which the disabilities are rated and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to obtain an updated medical examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is not entitled to a rating higher than 10 percent. The claims for service connection of right and left ear hearing loss and left knee disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and denied his requests for increased ratings, TDIU, and DEA benefits. The decision also affirmed the current disability ratings.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.