The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 10 percent disability rating. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms of recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia and regurgitation meet the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, but not higher due to lack of considerable impairment of health. Service connection for cervical spine disability and headaches is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating (considerable impairment of health) as required by Diagnostic Code 7346, which applies to hiatal hernia. The Veteran’s GERD was rated using this code due to its similarity to hiatal hernia.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Cervical spine disability, Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19121516
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19121516.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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