The Board found that the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The left knee post-traumatic patella femoral pain syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since December 31, 2007.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and his in-service symptoms or medications for his left knee disability. The VA examinations found no nexus between the service-connected left knee disability and the current hiatal hernia with GERD.
- Claimed conditions
- Hiatal Hernia with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Left Knee Post-Traumatic Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2018
- Citation
- 1801301
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 1801301.
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
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- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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