The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to adjudicate the secondary service connection claims for partial paralysis of the left hemidiaphragm and other residuals of a thoracotomy, as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophagitis. The veteran's chest area disability may be related to his September 1999 fall during a seizure disorder, but further medical opinion is needed. GERD and/or esophagitis are also being evaluated for potential secondary relationship with service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not provide sufficient clarity on the current state of the veteran's chest area disability or its relation to his September 1999 fall during a seizure disorder, necessitating further medical opinion. The nature and etiology of the veteran's gastrointestinal problems are also unclear and require additional evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- partial paralysis of the left hemidiaphragm, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0603151
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 195 · Granted: 24% (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 0603151.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
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