The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability for which service connection can be granted. However, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that he has a heart disability due to disease or injury in service.
The deciding factor: The August 2012 VA examiner found no evidence of noise-induced hearing loss during service and noted that the effects of hazardous noise exposure are present at the time of injury. The Veteran's lay statements regarding tinnitus were considered credible, but his current disability is not supported by medical evidence or treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1750540
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 1750540.
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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