The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability was rated at 30 percent from May 29, 2013 to September 27, 2018 and denied for a higher rating. From September 28, 2018, the Veteran's disability was also rated at 30 percent and denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports indicated that the Veteran had persistently recurrent epigastric distress with symptoms of pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, arm pain, and sleep disturbances. The examiner found no severe episodes or incapacitating episodes, and the Veteran's abdominal pain was continuous but only partially relieved by standard ulcer therapy.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20004794
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, a gastrointestinal disability, unspecified joint pain, rectal bleeding, unspecified tendonitis, right and left shoulder disabilities, migraine headaches, penile condition, and traumatic brain injury. The Board also denied an increased rating for the lumbosacral spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and inconsistencies in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his Social Security Administration records, as well as undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied initial compensable ratings for hepatitis C and service connection for diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal disability, finding no evidence of symptoms or causation.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding a current diagnosis related to an in-service stressor. Other service connection claims are remanded.
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