The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability, including postoperative residuals of achalasia, and a hernia. The veteran's current conditions are considered to be related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA medical records show that the veteran had undergone surgery for achalasia in service, which resulted in postoperative complications such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and a ventral hernia. These conditions have been linked to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal disability, to include postoperative residuals of achalasia, Hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2003
- Citation
- 0309392
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 673 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0309392.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and a need for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E services as his vocational goal of becoming a scuba instructor was not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hernia is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue in the claim.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, combined with other disabilities, does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.