Citation Nr: 18159063
Decision Date: 12/18/18	Archive Date: 12/18/18

DOCKET NO. 16-01 470
DATE:	December 18, 2018
ORDER
Service connection for bilateral hearing loss (BHL) is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
The evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that the Veteran’s BHL is associated with his service. Pursuant to the May 2015 VA examination, the Veteran has BHL for VA purposes. Consistent with the Veteran’s competent lay statements that he was exposed to a variety of loud construction noise in-service, to include in a letter to VA dated March 2015 and during the December 2018 Board hearing, his service personnel records show that he served as a heavy dump truck driver for an engineer battalion engaged in construction. The Board finds the Veteran’s statements as to his in-service exposure consistent with the circumstances of his service. Finally, although the May 2015 VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s BHL was not associated with his service, also in May 2015 a private physician opined that his current BHL was consistent with his military exposure to considerable construction-related noise in-service. The physician’s opinion was supported by rationale, to include consideration of the Veteran’s medical and service history, lay statements, and an in-person examination. 
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for BHL have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.385 (2017).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1972 to January 1975. He served honorably in the United States Army. The Board thanks the Veteran for his service to our country. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Newnan, Georgia. In December 2018, the Veteran testified at a videoconference Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. Pursuant to the Board’s finding of fact above, service connection for BHL is granted. 
 
M. C. GRAHAM
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	T. Fales, Associate Counsel