The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his previously denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports a link between these conditions and his military service. The Board also found current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran had in-service exposure to loud noise and reported symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus since service, which were considered sufficient for reopening the claims. The VA examiner could not provide a nexus opinion due to lack of available service treatment records but found current bilateral hearing loss beyond age normal with asymmetric hearing loss pattern.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18123646
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 18123646.
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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