The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for hiatal hernia, GERD, non-erosive gastritis due to the maximum schedular rating having been reached. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor. Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depression disease is granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left leg and right leg is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are denied due to lack of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, failure to meet the criteria for service connection under new-and-material evidence for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, and inability to establish a link between current symptoms and service for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non-erosive gastritis, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2018
- Citation
- 1806116
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 1806116.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
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