The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities, including erosive gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are secondary to his use of medication for his service-connected back disability. The condition was not present during service or due to service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence supports a finding that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disorders were aggravated by the medications used to treat his service-connected back disability, specifically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal disability, Erosive gastritis, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), MALT lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- June 20, 2001
- Citation
- 0116750
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 0116750.
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 remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for cirrhosis, hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, Barrett's esophagus, and obstructive sleep apnea but dismissed the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for kidney disease, GERD, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral arm condition. The TDIU claim was remanded.
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