The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a disability of the digestive system, including ulcers and hiatal hernia; a cervical spine disability manifested by degenerative joint disease (DJD), claimed as residuals of inservice trauma to the neck; a lower back disability, claimed as residuals of inservice trauma to the back; and a thoracic spine disability, claimed as residuals of inservice trauma to the back. The Board has also reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, claimed as residuals of inservice trauma to the shoulders.
The deciding factor: The submitted evidence is new and material, providing current diagnoses and suggesting possible links between the disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Digestive System Disability (including ulcers and hiatal hernia), Cervical Spine Disability, Lower Back Disability, Thoracic Spine Disability, Bilateral Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2002
- Citation
- 0216228
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 0216228.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, OSA, a cervical spine disability, and a thyroid disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder.
- Dismissed
The appeal for several conditions, including insomnia, hypertension, and various disabilities, was dismissed due to procedural issues.
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