The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the former being granted based on direct evidence of a current disability related to in-service noise exposure. The latter is presumed due to chronic disease manifested during service.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as it is directly related to in-service noise exposure and there is no intercurrent cause that would rebut the presumption. Tinnitus, being a chronic disease, has been granted based on its manifestation during service and post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1640750
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 1640750.
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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