The Veteran's service-connected conditions include adenoma in the duodenum, removal of gall bladder (Whipple procedure), intestinal condition secondary to Whipple procedure, diverticulitis, peritoneal scarring, periumbilical incisional hernia, epigastric hernia, and diabetes mellitus. These conditions are all related to his service-connected adenoma in the duodenum. The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been granted a 20% rating for moderate lateral instability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions are all secondary to his adenoma in the duodenum, which was first manifested during service and treated with a Whipple procedure that included removal of the gall bladder. The current diagnoses and complications are therefore considered as secondary to this primary condition.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of adenoma in the duodenum, removal of gall bladder (Whipple procedure), intestinal condition, diverticulitis, peritoneal scarring, periumbilical incisional hernia, epigastric hernia, diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20023014
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 20023014.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a colon condition, including as caused by herbicide agent exposure or secondary to his service-connected disabilities, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection on any basis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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