The Veteran's GERD has been service-connected since at least May 1994, and the Board finds that new evidence received after the August 1994 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate her claim of service connection for GERD.
The deciding factor: New evidence shows that the Veteran's GERD was diagnosed in 2003, which is within the presumptive period for undiagnosed illness due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Gallstones, Gallbladder condition, Sleep disturbances, Chronic fatigue, Memory loss, Chronic pain or joint aches, Muscle pains, Abdominal pain or stomach cramps, Cardiovascular condition, chest pains or sinus bradycardia, Neurological signs and symptoms, Neurophysical signs and symptoms, Upper and lower respiratory condition, Bronchitis/shortness of breath
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1637935
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 1637935.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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