The Veteran's esophageal spasm disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found no evidence of severe stricture that would warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show severe stricture of the esophagus, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7203.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal spasm, non-specific esophageal motility disorder, hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19137938
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19137938.
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 the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 18, 2020, for the grant of service connection for esophageal spasm. The decision stated that since the claim was filed more than one year after separation from active service, the earliest effective date allowed under law is the date of receipt of the formal claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery for GERD with Barrett's esophagitis and esophageal spasm required at least one month of convalescence, meeting the criteria for a temporary total disability rating (100%). The Board found that the surgery was appropriate treatment for his service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of current diagnoses for some conditions. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and esophageal spasm disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's esophageal spasm disability, finding that it results in moderate impairment but not worse.
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