The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, dermatosis of the arms and legs, and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were granted for an initial rating of 20 percent for right knee patellar instability with bursitis and retro patellar pain syndrome with limitation of flexion, but denied for more than 20 percent in both knees. Other issues were remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability or fibromyalgia at any time since filing his claim. The evidence did not support the diagnosis of dermatosis of the arms and legs or sinusitis.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Fibromyalgia, Dermatosis of the Arms and Legs, Sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2026
- Citation
- A26032186
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 A26032186.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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