Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, high blood pressure, a headache disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to a failure by the RO to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his exposure to hazardous noises during active service, and he has a current disability for VA purposes. The Veteran is granted service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's lumbar strain is related to injuries sustained during active service. He is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a disability due to impaired hearing, defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including larynx cancer and bladder cancer, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for the award of service connection for psychiatric disability, prostate cancer, and hypertension is granted. Effective dates are assigned for SMC at the housebound rate from March 20, 2025.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at a noncompensable (0%) level. The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 30% for the period on appeal, based on the May 2021 VA examination results.

The Board has remanded several issues for further review, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing disability meeting VA criteria. His left shoulder scars and left flank scar ratings remain noncompensable due to lack of compensating factors such as pain or instability. Hyperuricemia is not rated higher than noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes, and hypertension remains noncompensable.

The appeal of right ear hearing loss and the acquired psychiatric disorder claims are dismissed. The TBI claim is denied with an initial rating of 40 percent, post-traumatic headaches and right eye diplopia claims are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current tinnitus disability and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines have been denied as the evidence does not establish a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, finding no current disability in either case. The claim for glaucoma is remanded due to inadequate examination.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claim is also remanded as there was insufficient evidence provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD was granted effective August 29, 2022. Service connection was established for vitreous syneresis / vitreous floaters of both eyes. The claims for service connection for refractive error of both eyes (myopia and astigmatism), bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were all denied.