Citation Nr: 22040156 Decision Date: 07/13/22 Archive Date: 07/13/22 DOCKET NO. 19-26 447 DATE: July 13, 2022 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. FINDING OF FACT The probative evidence of record favors a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus had onset in service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1110, 1112, 1113; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303, 3.307, 3.309. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from May 1997 to May 2002. A Board hearing was held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in February 2022, and a transcript of the hearing is of record. Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). In this case, the Veteran has consistently reported that he experienced tinnitus that began in service and has continued to the present day. See May 2017 VA Form 21-4138. During the February 2022 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he first noticed ringing in his ears during basic training. The Veteran reported that the ringing in his ears in service was temporary initially, but that it progressed during active duty. The Veteran's spouse testified that the Veteran would complain of his ears bothering him in service. The Veteran indicated that he generally ignored the ringing in his ears during service, but it became more noticeable when he separated from service and began working in a quiet office environment. In reviewing service treatment records, the Veteran sought treatment for "ringing in ears" in January 2001. The provider indicated that the Veteran reported a decrease in hearing acuity over the past one to two years. The provider's assessment was subjective hearing loss. The Veteran was afforded a VA hearing loss and tinnitus examination in February 2017. The Veteran reported a history of constant tinnitus in both ears that began approximately 15 to 16 years earlier. While the examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by military noise exposure, she went on to state that her "opinion is not to say that he didn't have tinnitus in service." The examiner made reference to the Veteran's January 2001 service treatment record, which documents his report of "ringing in ears" and decrease in hearing acuity over the previous one to two years. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus had onset in service. As discussed above, service treatment records document that the Veteran reported ringing in his ears that began on active duty. The Veteran is competent to report that the tinnitus he experienced while on active duty has continued to the present. See Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370, 374 (2002) (tinnitus is a condition that may be diagnosed by its unique and readily identifiable features, which are capable of lay observation). The Board has no reason to doubt the credibility of the Veteran's statements, which are supported by his spouse's testimony. Accordingly, entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service incurrence that has continued to the present day. V. Chiappetta Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board B. Mask, 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.