The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and throat disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness related to these conditions, and that any current conditions were not caused by military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner noted that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed neck condition during his active duty, and that his current neck disorders are more likely due to rheumatoid arthritis. The GERD diagnosis was attributed to chronic use of medications for rheumatoid arthritis. No throat disorder was found on examination.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's claims were denied because there is no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service, including any exposure to herbicides.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's neck disorders are more likely due to rheumatoid arthritis rather than an in-service injury. The GERD diagnosis was attributed to chronic use of medications for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), throat disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21076505
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 21076505.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.