Citation Nr: 18150704
Decision Date: 11/15/18	Archive Date: 11/15/18

DOCKET NO. 18-38 078
DATE:	November 15, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for tinnitus is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, his tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to service.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for tinnitus are met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from March 2008 to October 2014.  
Service connection for tinnitus. 
The Veteran contends that his tinnitus developed due to in-service noise exposure, including combat noise exposure.  He has also provided credible lay testimony as to tinnitus since service.
The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus and that it is related to in-service noise exposure.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107(b); Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1363, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2009); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a).
Per October 2017 VA examination findings, the Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus.  The examiner found that such disorder was not related to service, at least in part to low probability to noise exposure.  
However, given the Veteran’s credible reports of in-service noise exposure, in conjunction with credible reports of chronicity, and giving the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is warranted.  


 
H.M. WALKER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Lindio