Citation Nr: 18144189
Decision Date: 10/24/18	Archive Date: 10/23/18

DOCKET NO. 16-21 337
DATE:	October 24, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
The Veteran’s competent and credible October 2018 Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) hearing testimony [describing in-service acoustic trauma from diesel generators in missile silos and persisting and progressively worsening hearing loss since separation], supported by the January 2015 positive nexus opinion and the June 2014 and March 2016 VA examination reports diagnosing current bilateral hearing loss, establish that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss began during service and has persisted since that time.  The VA audiological examiners’ negative nexus opinions were considered but cannot be assigned significant probative weight because the examiners did not provide detailed explanations (rationales) to support the negative opinions and did not fully consider the Veteran’s competent and credible reports of hearing loss symptoms persisting since service.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303.
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1961 to September 1964, including service in a combat unit during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  This matter is before the Board on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision.  In October 2018, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge of the Board.  Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), formerly associated with this appeal stream, was granted by the RO in a March 2016 rating decision.  Accordingly, that issue is not in appellate status and will not be addressed further here.  
Service connection for bilateral hearing loss
For the reasons outlined above, service connection is warranted.
 
VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Robinson, Associate Counsel