The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. However, new evidence received since the August 2004 rating decision includes diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.
The deciding factor: The September 2014 VA examination found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by his active service as no significant threshold shifts were noted during his military service. The examiner also opined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not due to his active service, citing lack of complaints or diagnosis in STRs.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- April 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18101062
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 18101062.
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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