The Veteran's GERD is granted a 30% rating, effective June 22, 2004.,Left ear hearing loss remains at a non-compensable rating. Right ear hearing loss is reopened to service connection but not yet established as service-connected.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss. The claim will be further adjudicated by reopening it, pending additional evidence or development.,The Board finds that there is no current disability of right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.
The deciding factor: The medical and lay evidence establishes that the Veteran's GERD manifests with symptoms that considerably impair his health. The symptoms reported by the Veteran and documented by his physicians are consistent with a 30% evaluation under DC 7346 throughout the period under consideration.,The results of audiometric testing do not document audiological impairment which equates to compensable evaluations for left ear at any time during the appeal period. The impact of hearing loss is contemplated by the rating criteria.,New and material evidence has been submitted, including testimony from the Veteran that his hearing loss had worsening since the most recent VA examination in 2017. This evidence relates to a previously unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for right ear hearing loss.,The April 2017 VA examiner determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by an event in military service, specifically noting normal hearing at entrance and no other significant findings.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Left ear hearing loss, Right ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21065527
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 21065527.
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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