The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent STI (claimed as herpes), chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory insufficiency dyspnea, hypertension, constipation, allergic rhinitis, and headaches have all been denied.,For the entire appeal period, a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder due to MST has also been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support current diagnoses or functional impairment related to these conditions. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment as defined by VA regulations.,The Veteran’s service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder due to MST has been rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, recurrent STI (claimed as herpes), PTSD with alcohol use disorder due to MST, left foot plantar fasciitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory insufficiency dyspnea, hypertension, constipation, allergic rhinitis, headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2026
- Citation
- A26013082
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 A26013082.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
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