The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s GERD status post-hernia repair is currently manifested by symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7346. His abdominal scar does not result in any disabling effects not considered under Diagnostic Codes 7800-05. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support the Veteran’s subjective complaints of severe impairment, such as dysphagia, pyrosis, or substernal pain, which are required for a higher rating under DC 7346. The VA examiner found no significant anemia or malnutrition and noted that the Veteran's scar does not limit function.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) status post-hernia repair, Abdominal scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19195003
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (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 19195003.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is dismissed. The claims for compensable ratings for abdominal scar and epididymitis are remanded.
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The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to July 2, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, abdominal scar, low back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability have been granted increased ratings. TDIU entitlement has also been granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected abdomen scar is denied as the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.
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