The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of sleep apnea.,Service connection for asthma was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,Service connection for migraine headaches (headaches) was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective December 3, 2021.,Service connection for right hand strain was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective December 3, 2021.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.
The deciding factor: The audiometric data did not show hearing loss sufficient to qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes.,There is no evidence of an existing sleep apnea disability.,The Veteran was granted service connection for asthma on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act due to his burn pit exposure, with August 10, 2022, being the earliest effective date allowable under the PACT Act.,In a July 2024 rating decision, the Veteran was awarded service connection for headaches effective December 3, 2021, the earliest possible effective date commensurate with his date of discharge from active service.,In an April 2023 rating decision, the Veteran was awarded service connection for right hand strain effective December 3, 2021, the earliest possible effective date commensurate with his date of discharge from active service.,The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic rhinitis on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act due to burn pit exposure, with August 10, 2022, being the earliest effective date allowable under the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, sleep apnea, asthma, migraine headaches (headaches), right hand strain, allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26005330
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 A26005330.
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 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 claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, thus denying both claims.
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