The Board has granted service connection for a stomach disability and an increased rating for back and psychiatric disabilities. The veteran's stomach disability is found to be related to his in-service diagnosis of GERD, which he continues to experience post-service. For the back disability, the Board determined that the current 20% rating adequately reflects the moderate limitation of motion and functional loss due to pain. For the psychiatric disability, the noncompensable rating was maintained as the GAF score of 80 indicates no more than slight impairment in social functioning.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disability is related to his service-connected GERD, which he experienced during service and continues post-service. The VA examination findings for the back disability do not support an increased rating beyond the 20% currently assigned. For the psychiatric disability, the GAF score of 80 indicates no more than slight impairment in social functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- stomach disability, back disability, psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2000
- Citation
- 0028564
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 0028564.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, hip, and lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses and lay statements will be considered in determining if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the colon is granted as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder to include alcohol use disorder. The back disability claim is remanded for further development.
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