The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, and the Board finds that the Veteran's statements are competent and credible. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to service due to noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion regarding the tinnitus but the Board found this opinion of limited probative value as it did not consider the Veteran's lay assertions of continuity of symptomatology. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that the absence of in-service evidence of a hearing disability during service is not always fatal to a service connection claim and considered the Veteran's competent and credible reports of noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2017
- Citation
- 1740519
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 1740519.
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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