Hearing loss decisions — 2026

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in ears). The evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.,For the right and left hip disabilities, the VA examiner found no diagnosed conditions. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's audiograms showed normal hearing. For tinnitus, the VA examiner determined it was transient ear noise rather than a diagnosable condition.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected, with a rating of 10 percent effective May 31, 2024.,Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss remains at the 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and dismissed the claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction (due to higher-level review error), and service connection for allergies.,Service connection for hypertension, low back disability, left shoulder disability, and loss of sense of smell is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee strain, and right knee degenerative disease due to incomplete development of evidence. The VA needs to obtain audiograms from May 2016 and June 2018, conduct a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss, and provide an Addendum Opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right elbow injury, sleep apnea, and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC program is being remanded due to errors in notification and lack of a medical opinion addressing whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate. The AOJ must obtain an updated medical opinion and provide proper notice.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for painful burn scars of the right elbow/olecranon was denied, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. The compensable rating for burn scars of the right upper extremity was also denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate rationale for the August 2025 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional relevant medical evidence and an addendum opinion from a qualified audiologist.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by evidence of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia due to insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, colon cancer, BUE and BLE neuropathies, and OSA are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Board is unable to consider certain records as they were not available at the time of the November 2020 supplemental claim decision.

The Veteran's initial rating for headaches has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective from the date of the decision. The other claims remain pending and are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations on several service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for fracture of the left hand fifth digit neck with apex dorsal angulation was denied as his disability is already rated at its maximum.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back problems, hiatal hernia, and right and left knee problems were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), right knee strain, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.