Hearing loss decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, an upper right arm burn scar, and tinnitus. The claims for initial compensable ratings for PTSD and tension headaches were not addressed as they remained in appellate status.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the case to assign an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current hearing loss to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. Bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to noise exposure in service, while tinnitus is found to be secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for various service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether his current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during active service. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is now established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to procedural errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The case will be returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no current disability for VA purposes during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are granted service connection, but his right ear hearing loss, head injury, right foot condition, and left foot condition are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's hearing acuity is being considered, along with his history of ear infections.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,PTSD service connection granted with an effective date of January 27, 2025. The original claim was filed on July 10, 2024.,Claims for left wrist and right wrist disabilities are remanded due to lack of VA examination or medical opinion.,Claims for right shoulder disability and headache disability (tension headaches) are remanded as the VA examiner did not address specific assertions regarding in-service events.,The Veteran's low back disability is diagnosed but a VA examination or medical opinion was not provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and that it is not related to military noise exposure. The Board also found no causal relationship with herbicide exposure.

The appeal for service connection of a skull fracture is dismissed. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.