The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's GI disability is secondary to his service-connected left hip and pelvic osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and bipolar disorder. The case needs further development with additional medical evaluations.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the possibility of a nexus between the Veteran’s GI disability and medications prescribed for his bipolar disorder, lumbar spine, and left hip disabilities, nor did they consider the submitted journal article regarding possible mechanisms for digestive problems in military veterans.
- Claimed conditions
- GI disability, cholecystitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21008268
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 21008268.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for cholecystitis and cholecystectomy as the evidence did not support a link to the Veteran's active military service or his service-connected hepatitis C.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's appendicitis and cholecystitis are related to VA treatment in November/December 2011, including any fault or negligence on the part of VA.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of non-VA medical services on October 13, 2014 at Avera McKennan Hospital was denied as VA could not perform the necessary treatment and there was no prior authorization. The Board found that the follow-up procedure was a continuation of his emergency treatment.
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