The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, or migraine headaches. Service connection was also denied for various conditions including PTSD, PDD, SSD, GAD, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and abdominal pain syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record as they did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA regulations or service connection based on the provided medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, recurring Bell's Palsy, migraine headaches, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), persistent depressive disorder (PDD), somatic symptom disorder (SSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), irritable bowel syndrome, dyspnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, abdominal pain syndrome, left hand tremors, right hand tremors
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011853
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 A26011853.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- 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 case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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