The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability. Service connection is also warranted for left ear hearing loss disability, but the matter is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had current diagnoses of tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability. The examiner conceded in-service noise exposure, but opined that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran’s left ear hearing loss disability preexisted service or was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral tinnitus, Right ear hearing loss disability, Left ear hearing loss disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21002123
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 21002123.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, finding that it is due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability began during service and is therefore granted as service connection.
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