Citation Nr: 21068555 Decision Date: 11/10/21 Archive Date: 11/10/21 DOCKET NO. 18-42 333 DATE: November 10, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran has experienced ringing in his ears related to tinnitus since his active service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty with the United States Air Force from April 1953 to January 1957. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of an April 2018 rating decision. The Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in October 2021. Service Connection Service connection will be granted for disability resulting from an injury or disease contracted in line of duty, or for aggravation of a preexisting injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty, in the active military, naval, or air service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. Establishing service connection generally requires evidence of (1) a current disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 2004). 1. Tinnitus The Board finds that entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is warranted. The Veteran reported noise exposure from the flight line, jet engine aircrafts and from firearms and explosions during various trainings. The Board concedes exposure to loud military noise during service. The Board notes that a March 2018 VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion on the basis that the Veteran denied that that he had tinnitus. However, the Veteran testified at the Board hearing that he still has ringing in his ears from his work performed during his military service. The Veteran is considered competent to provide evidence regarding symptoms he has experienced, such as ringing in the ears for many years. His statements as to noise exposure are consistent with the circumstances of his service and the Board finds such statements credible. Therefore, considering the totality of the evidence, the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on the question of a nexus between service and the current tinnitus. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Henriquez, 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.