The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's account of in-service acoustic trauma and post-service symptoms is considered credible, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were incurred during military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's testimony regarding onset of symptoms during service and continuity of symptoms after service was found to be credible. The VA audiologist's opinion on causation was considered, but the Board found it less likely than not that the current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were related to active service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0944556
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 0944556.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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