The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s GERD and hiatal hernia disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including medications used for those conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), Hiatal hernia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19195102
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 19195102.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and maxillary and frontal sinusitis, while granting a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, GERD, and OSA due to a need for additional evidence.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.