The Board denied service connection for bilateral otitis media ear damage due to a lack of current diagnosis and no residuals associated with the in-service event. The Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time since active service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus as there is credible evidence of an in-service noise exposure, current symptomatology, and competent evidence linking the condition to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral otitis media ear damage or hearing loss disability. The December 2014 VA examination did not show pure tone thresholds above 25 decibels at relevant frequencies, and no residuals were shown on separation examination.,The February 2020 VA examiner provided a negative opinion regarding the etiology of tinnitus, but the Veteran's lay statements supported his claim. The Board found that there was credible evidence linking the onset of tinnitus to in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral otitis media ear damage, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20020790
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 20020790.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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