The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.,An effective date earlier than February 26, 2013, for service connection for status-post esophageal cancer was denied as there is no communication prior to February 26, 2013, that could be construed as an earlier claim.,The Veteran's rating for status-post esophageal cancer with residual GERD was granted at 10 percent and the issue of entitlement to a higher rating was remanded.,Secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) due to service-connected disabilities was granted.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for right ear hearing loss since the last final denial in June 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Status-post esophageal cancer with residual GERD
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18139682
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18139682.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection for hypertension was granted in June 2023 based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date is not warranted.
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