The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's gallbladder stones and removal first manifested during service, thus granting service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows a preponderance of positive and negative evidence regarding when the gallbladder disorder began during service, placing all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- gallbladder stones, gallbladder removal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20048702
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 20048702.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of July 3, 2023. This decision is based on the liberalizing law from the PACT Act and the fact that all service-connected disabilities contributing to TDIU arose from a common etiology (toxic exposure risk activities).
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for cholelithiasis with subsequent gallbladder removal is denied as she has not been shown to have moderate cholecystitis or mild symptoms resulting from the procedure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and a need for further medical opinions regarding whether pain medications used for service-connected low back disability caused or aggravated gallbladder disability.
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