The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability within VA standards.
The deciding factor: The April 2016 VA examination did not find any audiometric findings meeting the regulatory definition of a hearing loss disability in the Veteran's left ear, and the Board found that the Veteran has not met the threshold requirement for his service connection claim as he does not have a current disability as defined under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19186138
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 appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- 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.
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