The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability under VA regulations and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to or the result of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was incurred coincident with service.
The deciding factor: The October 2014 VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is not at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure in service and instead more likely due to intercurrent causes such as occupational and recreational noise exposure.,The private practitioner's opinion supports the conclusion that the tinnitus is proximately due to or the result of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was incurred coincident with service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1641084
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 1641084.
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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