The Board has granted an effective date of October 22, 2014 for the award of service connection and a separate compensable disability rating for esophageal stricture. The earlier effective date claim was denied.
The deciding factor: The earliest evidence indicating entitlement to a separate compensable disability rating for esophageal stricture is from September 24, 2014, which is the same month as the Veteran's October 22, 2014 claim for service connection. The RO considered this new evidence and granted service connection on that date.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal stricture, Meniere’s disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20029685
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 20029685.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's gastritis and esophageal stricture are granted as service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 12, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GI disorders are related to his service, but the AOJ needs to determine which specific deployments and activities caused these conditions. The case is being remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's GERD, esophageal stricture, and reflux esophagitis are less likely related to service due to a negative VA opinion. However, the Veteran contends his condition is related to exposure to burn pits during Southwest Asia operations. The Board also notes there is conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's alcohol use disorder. Therefore, the case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.
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