The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD, hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease, and partial colectomy for adenoma. The examiner is asked to clarify whether these conditions are related to her service-connected status-post cholecystectomy.
The deciding factor: The Board requested an addendum opinion to address the relationship between the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders and her service-connected status-post cholecystectomy, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by that condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal disorder, GERD (Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease), Hiatal hernia, Peptic ulcer disease, Partial colectomy for adenoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22040777
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 22040777.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and dysphagia, finding that there was no documented history of esophageal stricture requiring daily medications to control dysphagia.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to PTSD because the Veteran died before his hearing could be conducted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected GERD and hiatal hernia status post Nissen fundoplication is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of his symptoms at the time of the March 2021 VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder, and panic disorder to include insomnia, and GERD were reduced. The motion to revise these decisions based on CUE is granted.
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