The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for GERD with hiatal hernia, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, and lungs residuals, calcified nodules of the lungs.
The deciding factor: No communication from the Veteran or his representative indicating an intent to claim service connection for these disabilities prior to February 14, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- GERD with hiatal hernia, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, lungs residuals, calcified nodules of the lungs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19165208
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (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 19165208.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to dress, undress, bathe, groom himself, prepare meals, and transport himself without the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance since October 10, 2012.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was received for the claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, a neck disability, a right shoulder disability, inguinal hernias, and GERD with hiatal hernia. These claims are now remanded for further adjudication.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee ligament tear with degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of hips and great toes, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
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