The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The effective date is not specified as it was a full grant of benefits.
The deciding factor: The February 2020 VA examiner provided a favorable nexus opinion linking the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus to his documented in-service hearing loss, based on his MOS having a high probability for noise exposure and his reported use of empty rifle shells as hearing protection during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21064798
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 21064798.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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