The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a shrapnel injury. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided competent lay statements describing his noise exposure and the onset and continuity of symptoms of his decreased hearing and ringing in his ears since service. Resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran, the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The medical evidence supports that the Veteran has residuals of a shrapnel injury with small pieces of metal found in his neck.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of a shrapnel injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2016
- Citation
- 1638553
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1638553.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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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