The Board granted the appellant's claims for service connection on a secondary basis for gallbladder disability and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer disability with subtotal gastrectomy, both for purposes of accrued benefits. The cause of the veteran's death was not addressed as it is not related to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's gallbladder disability was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected duodenal ulcer disability with subtotal gastrectomy, and granted an increased rating for the duodenal ulcer disability. The cause of death claim was not addressed as it is not related to any service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- gallbladder disability, duodenal ulcer disability with subtotal gastrectomy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0310242
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,592 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0310242.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hysterectomy is denied as her hysterectomy was not related to her active duty service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and a need for further medical opinions regarding whether pain medications used for service-connected low back disability caused or aggravated gallbladder disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether VA's negligence in prescribing Tramadol and iron led to the Veteran's gallbladder removal. The case is being returned for an adequate opinion from a VA clinician.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for gallbladder disability, pre-cancer polyps and colon problems, and dental condition, but granted a 40 percent rating for right shoulder injury and a 30 percent rating for right elbow disability.
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.