Hearing Loss VA Claim Grants

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's Meniere's disease, otitis media/externa, and impacted cerumen began during active service.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

Resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, his current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

1. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by acoustic trauma during a period of inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the Air National Guard in September 1977. 2. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma incurred during a period of INACDUTRA or active duty for training (ACDUTRA) with the Air National Guard. 2.…

Reasons & Bases (verbatim from decision)

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1966 to October 1966 and in the Air National Guard for approximately 20 years. These matters initially came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2015 decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) that, among other things, denied the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran testified at a Travel Board hearing in November 2019 before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). A transcript of that hearing is of record. The Board remanded the claims for further development in January 2020. As the Board is, for the reasons explained below, granting the benefits sought in full, discussion of compliance with the Board's January 2020 remand instructions is unnecessary. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus The Veteran contends that his hearing loss and tinnitus began while serving in the Air National Guard working on the flight line as a loadmaster and fueling aircraft.…

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

1. The evidence is at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was incurred in and is etiologically related to active service. 2. The evidence is at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in and is etiologically related to active service.

Reasons & Bases (verbatim from decision)

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1991 to June 1995. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a December 2018 legacy rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran timely appealed that decision and requested de novo review of the claims by a Decision Review Officer (DRO). See January 2019 Notice of Disagreement. That was provided in the October 2019 Statement of the Case (SOC) which continued the denials for the claims. The Veteran timely filed an appeal requesting a hearing. See October 2019 VA Form 9. The Veteran provided sworn testimony at a November 2022 Board hearing before the undersigned Veteran's Law Judge (VLJ) (formerly with the last name Costello). A copy of the hearing transcript has been associated with the Veteran's electronic claims file. See 2022 Hearing Transcript. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. Service connection will be granted if it is shown that a veteran has a disability resulting from an injury or disease contracted in the line of duty, or for aggravation of a preexisting injury or disease contracted in the line of duty in the active military, naval, space, or air service. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.…

Findings of Fact (verbatim from decision)

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was a result of his active military service.