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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · 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 0407476.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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