The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 8, 2023 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability severity before this date. For the earlier effective date claim, the Board determined there was no ascertainable worsening of the Veteran's condition within one year prior to May 6, 2021.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show an ascertainable worsening of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss in the year prior to his claim for increased rating. The Veteran's subjective complaints were found less probative than the objective clinical findings and VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26039416
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 A26039416.
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.
- 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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