The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The veteran served in active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA in the Army National Guard, which is considered active military service. His audiometric test results show an upward trend during his service period, indicating potential noise-induced hearing impairment. Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss as a result of acoustic trauma sustained while serving in the Army National Guard.
The deciding factor: The veteran's audiometric test results demonstrate an upward trend in auditory thresholds throughout his military service, suggesting potential noise-induced hearing impairment. Given that he served in active duty and ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA in the Army National Guard, which is considered active military service, his current bilateral hearing loss can be presumed to have been incurred due to acoustic trauma sustained during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2006
- Citation
- 0627454
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,440 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0627454.
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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