The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for a brain tumor, left ear hearing loss, and a higher rating for major depressive disorder were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or that her migraine headaches and tinnitus met the criteria for increased ratings. The claims for service connection for a brain tumor, left ear hearing loss, and a higher rating for major depressive disorder were remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, tinnitus, brain tumor, left ear hearing loss, major depressive disorder (MDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25053019
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
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