Citation Nr: 20005186 Decision Date: 01/24/20 Archive Date: 01/22/20 DOCKET NO. 19-13 954 DATE: January 24, 2020 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. FINDINGS OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are etiologically related to military noise exposure. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The criteria for service connection for tinnitus have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.307, 3.309. 2. The criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.307, 3.309, 3.385. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS The appellant is a Veteran who served on active duty from June 1987 to March 1992. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Service Connection Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss The Veteran filed a claim seeking service connection for tinnitus in March 2017. Service treatment records are negative for reports of tinnitus. During service he worked as an observation/scout helicopter repairer. During service he was placed on hearing loss profile H1, as a result of being routinely exposed to hazardous noise. Accordingly, exposure to loud noise is conceded. The Veteran reported in a November 2017 statement that he was routinely being exposed to hazardous noise. At the June 2017 VA examination, the Veteran reported tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss that originated during service. The Veteran is competent to report on symptoms of ringing in the ears and decreased hearing acuity. See Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370 (2002). The Veteran contends that he has experienced such ringing in the ears and loss of hearing since service. He reported noise exposure including helicopters and occasional mortar noise. He worked post-service on airplanes for a while but no longer does that type of work. He reported sometimes having to stop what he is doing when the tinnitus becomes very loud and that it has awakened him from sleep on more than one occasion. The examiner stated his tinnitus and hearing loss are less likely than not associated with military noise exposure. In so opining, the examiner noted that there are no complaints of tinnitus or hearing loss in service, and he was not diagnosed with either within his first post-service year. Tinnitus and hearing loss were diagnosed during the June 2017 examination, and the Veteran has consistently reported that he experienced symptoms of both since his time in service. Considering the Veteran’s consistent reports, competence to report tinnitus and hearing loss, and acknowledgment of noise exposure during service, the Board resolves all doubt in the Veteran’s favor and finds that tinnitus and hearing loss had their onset during active duty service. Service connection is warranted. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Skiouris, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.