The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 50% rating for migraine headaches, a 60% rating for herpes labialis and genital herpes, and her claim for painful umbilical scars status post c-section and hernia repair was granted with a 20% rating. Her claims of service connection for sciatic radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the left lower extremity and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis are being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have current hearing loss or a diagnosis of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran's migraines meet the criteria for a 50% disability rating under DC 8100, considering all symptoms including non-headache symptoms like dizziness and nausea.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Left ear hearing loss, Migraine headaches, Painful umbilical scars status post c-section and hernia repair, Herpes labialis and genital herpes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26002474
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26002474.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches due to right eye removal are granted. The claim for a compensable evaluation of xeroderma of the right eye is remanded.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
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