The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied. The decision also found that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss since June 29, 2024, is not warranted, and an earlier effective date than June 29, 2024, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is not granted.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to a lack of evidence showing that his current diagnosis began during service or was related to in-service injury. The Board gave more weight to the VA examiner's opinion which concluded that OSA is not related to toxic exposure risk activities or COPD.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his hearing acuity levels were at Level I in both ears.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea began during service or was related to an in-service injury, including toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) or secondary to his service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's hearing acuity levels were at Level I in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied as it was based on a supplemental claim received after the October 2018 decision became final.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26009061
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 A26009061.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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