The Board has decided that the Veteran's gastrointestinal issues are related to service, but needs further medical examination and opinion to determine if these conditions are directly related or caused by any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no direct relationship between the Veteran’s current gastrointestinal issues and his service in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's history of abdominal pain, gastritis diagnosis, and hernias during service is not indicative of the onset of his current gastrointestinal issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute calculus cholecystitis with cholecystectomy, Diverticulosis with acute diverticulitis with perforation, Resection of the large intestine, Post open cholecystectomy scar right upper quadrant and vertical midline abdomen
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19147702
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.