The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinion regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal conditions, specifically esophageal ulcers and stomach pain. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to active duty service or any specific exposures (herbicide exposure while in Vietnam, Camp Lejeune water supply contaminants, or potential asbestos exposure).
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by the VA examiner was insufficient for adjudication purposes and did not address all relevant theories of entitlement.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal ulcers, stomach pain, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), ulcerative esophagitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2020
- Citation
- A20018936
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A20018936.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to her already receiving the maximum allowable benefits.,Earlier effective dates are denied for flexion impairment of the left knee, GERD, and bilateral pes planus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right lower peripheral neuropathy, left lower peripheral neuropathy, and stomach pain (claimed as possible prostate issue) due to new evidence received after the January 2015 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, mental health disorder, TBI, alopecia, headaches, TMJ disorder, insomnia, OSA, conjunctivitis, dry eye disorder, glaucoma, PFB, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, asthma, hyperthyroid disorder, hives, anemia, DM (diabetes mellitus), heart disorder, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), kidney stones, hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, varicose veins, heel spurs, pes planus, bunions, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, back disorder, RLE neuropathy, LLE neuropathy, HTN (hypertension), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), bladder disorder, ED (erectile dysfunction), prostate disorder, and gout.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected diverticulitis with diverticulosis, to include GERD; service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); and service connection for psoriasis. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional information.
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