The Board has granted service connection for GERD with hernia hiatal and hypogonadism, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea. The case is being remanded for further development regarding a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s GERD with hernia hiatal and hypogonadism are at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hernia hiatal, Hypogonadism
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183630
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (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 19183630.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 GERD disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected condition, considering prior rating criteria and the effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to the ameliorative effects of medication.,The Veteran's lumbar spine IVDS status post compression fracture, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.,Service connection has been granted for abnormal renal function, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, prostate condition, and hernia due to exposure to toxic risk exposure activities (TERA) in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's limitations in performing activities of daily living are consistent with being unable to sustain himself in the community, warranting Tier 2 benefits under the PCAFC program.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD with panic attacks and denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and service connection for hypogonadism.
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