The claim to reopen the previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim to reopen the previously denied claim for tinnitus is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The deciding factor: The new evidence received since the last final decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the service connection claims.,The appellant’s lay testimony about the onset of his hearing loss symptoms during active duty service is considered. The examiner must also address the lay statements from the appellant's spouse regarding the continuity of symptomatology since 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
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19165667
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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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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