The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were granted with a 10% rating effective April 10, 2025. The appeal for an earlier effective date was denied. The claim for increased ratings for both conditions is also denied.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for the service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are fixed at the earliest date of receipt of a claim (April 10, 2025), as there were no prior communications indicating intent to seek these benefits. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6260, and his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26022600
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 A26022600.
What this means for you
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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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