Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
DismissedPACT Act

The Veteran's appeal for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as she withdrew her claim.,Service connection for asthma is granted pursuant to the PACT Act, presuming exposure to burn pits during service.

The deciding factor: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of asthma and was presumed exposed to burn pits during service. The Board found no evidence linking the condition to active service.

Claimed conditions
bilateral hearing loss, asthma, tinnitus, left lower leg disability, right lower leg disability, sleep apnea, neck disability, plantar fasciitis
How they argued it
Presumptive (no nexus needed)
Exposure basis
Burn pits / airborne hazards
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
February 24, 2026
Citation
A26016816

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 A26016816.

What this means for you

A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.

What you can do next

Related decisions

Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.

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.