The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, right and left hand peripheral neuropathy, right and left shoulder disability, right and left ankle disability, and residuals of a branchial cleft cyst excision. The Board also granted service connection for a low back disability (moderate spondylosis) and associated right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's reports of low back problems since service were not adequately addressed by the March 2015 VA examiner, who based his opinion on the lack of records showing a recurrence of symptomatology. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding whether the current low back disability and associated radiculopathy commenced during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Right hand peripheral neuropathy, Left hand peripheral neuropathy, Right shoulder disability, Left shoulder disability, Right ankle disability, Left ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20026218
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 20026218.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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