The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and his left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted.
The deciding factor: The Board considered the Veteran's testimony of acoustic trauma during service and the January 1996 STRs indicating routine exposure to hazardous noise. The July 2017 VA examiner found that his tinnitus is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with hearing loss, which was aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21076146
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 21076146.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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