The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The July 2019 VA Environmental Exposure Gulf War examination opinion is deemed inadequate as it failed to address the pathophysiology of the Veteran's conditions and did not adequately explain if his reflux symptoms were indicative of an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.
- Claimed conditions
- hiatal hernia, muscle spasms, pain, burning sensations, vibration in his legs, sleeping disturbances, poor concentration, breathing difficulties, possible psychiatric condition
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2022
- Citation
- 22038303
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 22038303.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 inadequate development of her exposure history and lack of adequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches has been granted at 50 percent. The issue of service connection for hiatal hernia and esophagitis, related to PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 12, 2021.
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