The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, chronic diarrhea (IBS), and sleep apnea with asthma have all been denied. The effective dates for these conditions are September 1, 2022.,An earlier effective date of September 1, 2023, has been granted for the award of service connection for hypertension, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral ankle disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for hearing loss disability under VA regulations. The Veteran's sinusitis and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not diagnosed during or recent to the filing of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, chronic diarrhea (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)), sleep apnea with asthma, allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 18, 2026
- Citation
- A26014685
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 A26014685.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.