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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20048702.
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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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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