The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's application was previously denied due to lack of evidence linking his current conditions to service. New evidence has been submitted that suggests a possible link between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Thyroid disability, Right shoulder disability, Low back disability, Neck disability, Left foot disability, Right foot disability, Cataracts, Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18142936
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 18142936.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding a causal relationship between the condition and an in-service incident of military sexual trauma (MST).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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