The Veteran's gastroesophageal disorder, right knee disorder, and several musculoskeletal disorders are granted service connection. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the medical literature did not support an etiologic link between helicobacter pylori infection/GERD and exposure to fumes, dust, and smoke. However, this conclusion was based on a generic explanation without considering the Veteran's specific service history and symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23058106
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 23058106.
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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