The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the issues of an earlier effective date for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for reflux esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and gastrointestinal bleeding (claimed as stomach problems) secondary to service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder on a causation basis is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim from October 25, 2016 is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was established for reflux esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to PTSD with alcohol use disorder on a causation basis. The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently 80 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, reflux esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and gastrointestinal bleeding (claimed as stomach problems)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081204
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20081204.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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