The Veteran's GERD is granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.,VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of his cervical strain and right ankle disorder due to lack of information regarding functional limitations during flare-ups. The VA examiner must also provide opinions on whether these disorders are related to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and major depressive disorder need further evaluation by a VA examiner to determine their etiology and relationship to service-connected conditions.,VA examinations are needed to assess the nature of the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including its relation to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s GERD has been productive of considerable impairment of health; severe impairment of health has not been shown.,VA examinations are needed due to insufficient information regarding functional limitations during flare-ups and inability to assess these without witnessing a flare-up episode. The VA examiner must provide opinions on additional functional loss caused by flare-ups and repeated use over time.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and major depressive disorder need further evaluation as the etiology of these conditions is not established in his service records or medical history.,VA examinations are needed to assess the nature of the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including its relation to his active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Cervical strain, Right ankle disorder, Bilateral knee disorder, Major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18152926
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 18152926.
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 Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- 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.
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