The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection of a digestive system disability, including GERD, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis, is granted. The Veteran’s left quadricep atrophy has been rated as severe (40%). Service connection for the digestive system disability remains remanded due to new evidence not previously considered. Service connection for the left quadriceps atrophy is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The new evidence submitted since the last denial indicates that the Veteran's currently diagnosed digestive system disability may be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, which was not previously considered in the original decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Digestive System Disability, Left Quadricep Atrophy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158959
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 19158959.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for RLS of the right and left lower extremities, secondary to lumbar degenerative disc disease based on aggravation. Service connection for a digestive system disability was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's digestive system disability is not shown to be related to active duty service or to any occurrence or event therein and the residuals of food poisoning have not been demonstrated.
- Granted
The Veteran's digestive system disability, specifically irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastritis, has been determined to be aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional VA medical records and a comprehensive VA examination are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for increased PTSD evaluation and pension benefits.
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