The Veteran's esophageal motility disorder, hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gastroenteritis were not found to be service-connected. The initial rating for degenerative spondylosis of the spine was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal motility disorder, degenerative spondylosis of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2009
- Citation
- 0935228
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 0935228.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination in determining whether the Veteran's throat disability is related to his service-connected GERD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case to obtain a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed stomach condition is related to his period of service and whether it was caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 100% rating for GERD, with hiatal hernia, esophageal motility disorder and cyclical vomiting syndrome on an extraschedular basis as of May 14, 2017, but not earlier.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's esophageal motility disorder in service is related to his current stomach problems, and the Board has ordered an additional VA examination to determine if there is a link between these conditions.
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