The veteran is seeking service connection for a lower digestive disability, claimed as small bowel obstruction secondary to abdominal adhesions from hernia/abdominal surgeries. He also seeks an increased evaluation for his gastroesophageal reflux with dyspepsia. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.
The deciding factor: The veteran's lower digestive disability, claimed as small bowel obstruction secondary to abdominal adhesions from hernia/abdominal surgeries, may be related to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux with dyspepsia. The case requires further evaluation by a VA examiner to determine the etiology of the veteran's current gastrointestinal symptoms and their relationship to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- lower digestive disability, claimed as small bowel obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux with dyspepsia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2004
- Citation
- 0407476
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 0407476.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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