Service connection for a cervical spine disability was granted with an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from February 3, 2011. Service connection for the gastrointestinal disability (claimed as GERD, Barrett's esophagus, grade D esophagitis, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), residuals of cholecystectomy, residuals of gastric banding surgery, and intestinal metaplasia) was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted service connection based on the merits as a direct result of his active duty service. The gastrointestinal disability claim was denied because it did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection to a pre-existing condition (left knee disability).
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disability, gastrointestinal disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1635812
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 1635812.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine and skin rash disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to a predecisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's past medical history needs to be considered in the new examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and cervical spine disability due to potential service connection issues related to obesity, service-connected disabilities, and other factors.
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