A 30 percent rating for GERD is granted. The claim for a higher rating for rhinitis prior to January 8, 2020 and until May 3, 2023 is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Higher ratings are granted for right knee meniscal tear/patellar chondromalacia, right thigh strain (limitation of extension), and right thigh strain (limitation of flexion). The claims for service connection regarding left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left thigh strain are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's GERD symptoms meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating. His rhinitis claim is dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not met due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria. The claims regarding knee and thigh disabilities are remanded.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Rhinitis, Bilateral hearing loss, Right knee meniscal tear/patellar chondromalacia, Right thigh strain, limitation of extension, Right thigh strain, limitation of flexion, Left ankle condition, Right ankle condition, Left thigh strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 22, 2023
- Citation
- A23033158
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 A23033158.
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 appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
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