The veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 21, 2001 for service connection and a higher evaluation for his hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for reopening his claim for service connection of diverticulosis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show new and material information to reopen the claim for service connection of diverticulitis, and the veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease was evaluated as severe but not disabling enough to warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Diverticulitis, Hiatal Hernia with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 4, 2004
- Citation
- 0405909
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 0405909.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from July 28, 2024, but denied a higher rating. The Board also denied an increased rating for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Dismissed
The appeal for an earlier effective date of October 16, 2018, for the initial grant of service connection for diverticulitis was dismissed as the Veteran effectively expressed satisfaction with this date.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a link to the Veteran's military service.
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