The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, GERD, and sleep apnea are denied. The claim for a 30% initial rating for GERD is granted. The claim for a higher initial rating than 50% for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria set forth in VA regulations, meeting the auditory threshold requirements at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz.
- Claimed conditions
- Cranial neuropathy, Kidney condition (post-transplant), Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078107
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 20078107.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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