The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and GERD, assigned a rating of 20 percent for the back disability from March 31, 2021, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and a higher rating for the right shoulder disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, while GERD had its onset during service. The evidence does not support current right ear hearing loss or obstructive sleep apnea, nor does it establish a nexus between the right shoulder disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, back disability, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25050331
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
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