The Veteran's Barrett’s esophagus is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service, specifically the period of service at Camp Lejeune where he was exposed to contaminated water.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there is no specific presumption for exposure to contaminated water, the disability can still be granted on a direct causation basis due to presumed exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Barrett’s esophagus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19188434
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 19188434.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's GERD/Barrett’s esophagus is related to his military service, including as due to a service-connected duodenal ulcer.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of Barrett’s esophagus was dismissed due to the death of the claimant.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, IBS, hiatal hernia, and gastritis. The decision finds that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and are at least as likely as not related to his active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has not fully addressed the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD and Barrett’s esophagus, as it did not provide a rationale for its opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
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