The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's contentions concerning in-service noise exposure are credible and consistent with his service. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss as it was incurred during active duty.
The deciding factor: The examiner provided a negative nexus opinion based on the Veteran's normal hearing test results during service, post-service occupational noise exposure, and the fact that the Veteran's documented MOS was not associated with routine exposure to high risk noise. However, the Board found this opinion has little probative value as it did not address the Veteran's competent and credible reports of continuous tinnitus symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2016
- Citation
- 1633185
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 1633185.
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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