The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted. The remaining issues of service connection for esophageal condition, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure or injury related to these conditions, leading to denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues were remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Esophageal Condition (GERD and Barrett's Esophagus), Left Shoulder Disability, Degenerative Disc Disease (Low Back Disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22059446
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 22059446.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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