The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 20, 2023, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 7, 2024, for the award of a 30 percent rating for service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is denied.,From March 7, 2024, to November 26, 2024, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran has had a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The date of claim for effective date purposes is June 20, 2023. There was no expression of an intent to seek service connection for tinnitus before this date.,The Veteran's symptoms are fully contemplated by the schedular criteria for tinnitus and do not exceed what is contemplated by Diagnostic Code 6260.,Prior to March 7, 2024, it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder had increased in severity.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder manifested in symptoms that most closely approximated occupational and social impairment during the period from March 7, 2024, to November 26, 2024.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26003925
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 A26003925.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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