The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected gastric ulcer, esophageal stricture, and peptic esophagitis warranted a rating of 40 percent, effective from May 22, 2000. However, the claim for an increased rating remains in appellate status.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his condition was manifested by subjective complaints but without severe hemorrhages or large ulcerated or eroded areas.
- Claimed conditions
- gastric ulcer, esophageal stricture, peptic esophagitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0618109
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,500 · Granted: 17% (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 0618109.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's gastritis and esophageal stricture are granted as service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 12, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GI disorders are related to his service, but the AOJ needs to determine which specific deployments and activities caused these conditions. The case is being remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection of hiatal hernia and increased rating for otitis media with bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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