The Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, including hiatal hernia and Mallory-Weiss tear, was not caused by any incident of service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions established that the current gastrointestinal conditions are not related to an in-service injury or disease, including the 1967 accident and parachute jumps.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal condition, Hiatal hernia, Mallory-Weiss tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18113942
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18113942.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and dysphagia, finding that there was no documented history of esophageal stricture requiring daily medications to control dysphagia.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected GERD and hiatal hernia status post Nissen fundoplication is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of his symptoms at the time of the March 2021 VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder, and panic disorder to include insomnia, and GERD were reduced. The motion to revise these decisions based on CUE is granted.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss was dismissed. Service connection for TBI and obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD, were granted. Service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, secondary to PTSD, was also granted.
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