The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his GERD rating is increased to 30 percent. The claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with knee meniscal tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with knee meniscal tear and anterior cruciate ligament tear, and left knee status post partial meniscectomy with anterior cruciate ligament repair are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and has continued since discharge. His GERD symptoms were rated as 30 percent disabling based on the criteria for hiatal hernia, which included persistent epigastric distress with pyrosis, regurgitation, chest pain that sometimes radiated to shoulders, burping, sleep disturbances, and reflux.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26040440
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 A26040440.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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