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Board of Veterans' Appeals · AMA series

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied. Service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted. REMANDED The issue of entitlement…

July 30, 2026Citation Nr. A26069983Docket 250729-567904va.gov source

  • TinnitusGranted
  • Right ear hearing lossDenied
  • Left ear sensorineural hearing lossGranted
  • Left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (initial rating)Remanded
  • Right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation (initial rating)Remanded
DecisionAnalysis

Board reasoning

The Board grants tinnitus and left ear sensorineural hearing loss based on credible in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms, while denying right ear hearing loss for VA purposes due to lack of a qualifying disability during the appeal. For the two increased rating issues (left ankle and right shoulder), the Board remands to obtain adequate examinations that consider medication effects and functional impairment without medications, as well as to address flare-ups and other required criteria.

Issues

  • TinnitusGranted
  • Right ear hearing lossDenied
  • Left ear sensorineural hearing lossGranted
  • Left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (initial rating)Remanded
  • Right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation (initial rating)Remanded

Authorities

  • Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1362cited for general rule on service connection and evidence standards
  • Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163supports nexus and chronicity considerations
  • Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370recognizes lay testimony for tinnitus
  • Fountain v. McDonald, 27 Vet. App. 258presumptive service connection for chronic diseases
  • Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303adequacy of medical examinations

Extracted with gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07. Citations are kept only when they appear in the decision text.