The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the abdomen and related surgeries, finding that his current hiatal hernia is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing that the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during service, thus granting service connection for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of gunshot wound to the abdomen, hiatal hernia, status post exploratory laparotomy for gunshot wound of the abdomen with repair of intestinal perforations, partial small bowel obstructions secondary to adhesions from the Veteran's gunshot wound surgery and intestinal repair
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22039514
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 22039514.
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 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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