Citation Nr: 21072197 Decision Date: 12/02/21 Archive Date: 12/02/21 DOCKET NO. 18-53 854 DATE: December 2, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, his bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.307, 3.385. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran had active duty service from January 1975 to June 1976. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2018 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in October 2021. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran contends that he has current bilateral hearing loss, which is related to in-service noise exposure, to include as due to jet engine noise, his work as a loadmaster on various cargo airdrops, and gun noise. See June 2018 statement in support of claim; March 2018 fully developed claim; April 2018 VA examination. The Board concludes that the Veteran has a current disability that 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). Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty or for aggravation of preexisting injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. In addition, service connection may be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all of the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (d). In order to prevail on the issue of entitlement to service connection, there must be (1) evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disease or injury. Hickson v. West, 12 Vet. App. at 247. Service connection may also be granted for certain chronic diseases if manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year of separation from active service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1112, 1113 (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.307, 3.309. Alternatively, service connection may also be granted for chronic conditions that have manifested continuous symptomology since separation of service. 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307, 3.309. The Veteran's April 2018 VA examiner noted the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss. The examiner noted the Veteran's MOS as an air cargo specialist and noted his in-service exposure to loud aircraft engine and gun noise. The Veteran submitted a June 2018 lay statement from a friend who knew the Veteran before and after service. The friend reported a strong worsening in the Veteran's hearing after service. During hearing testimony, the Veteran indicated that his hearing loss began in service and has continued since service. Where the evidence for and against a claim is equal, the Board must give the Veteran the benefit of the doubt. Therefore, reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran, and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. Jennifer White Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Mookim, Hope P. 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.