The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that his current bilateral tinnitus was causally related to noise exposure during active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to a lack of evidence demonstrating a current disability for VA purposes within one year after separation from service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was diagnosed and reported as constant since its onset in November 2015, coinciding with his military service. The Board found that the Veteran's claimed noise exposure during active duty supported a finding of causation.,There is no evidence showing bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes within one year after separation from service, despite the Veteran reporting symptoms and post-service treatment records indicating mild low frequency conductive hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, somatic symptom disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2026
- Citation
- A26019505
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 A26019505.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.
- 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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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