The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal cancer and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current esophagus disability is not considered to be related to his military service, and there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service. For the increased rating claim, the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 21, 2010, but has met the criteria since that date.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the current esophagus disability and service. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated based on its severity at the time of the examination, with no improvement noted after January 21, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- esophagus disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2012
- Citation
- 1211802
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1211802.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remanded the claims for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for throat cancer, mouth disability, thyroid disability, and esophagus disability. The Veteran's symptoms of sore throat in service are noted, but no medical nexus opinions were provided.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an esophagus disability, claimed as Barrett's esophagus, and a heart disability, to include hypertension and atrial fibrillation. The esophagus disability is found to be proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The heart disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam or secondary to his service-connected hyperthyroidism.,The Board has granted service connection for an esophagus disability, claimed as Barrett's esophagus, and a heart disability, to include hypertension and atrial fibrillation. The esophagus disability is found to be proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The heart disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam or secondary to his service-connected hyperthyroidism.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, and esophagus disability are granted. The Board instructed the AOJ to provide a new examination for the esophagus disability claim.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for esophagus disability, lung disability (spots on lungs), headaches, and hypertension. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea pursuant to the PACT Act.
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