The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal conditions, breast cancer residuals, esophageal conditions, and gallbladder removal due to potential service connection based on secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board found that further medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's allegations of exposure to hazardous substances at Camp Pendleton and her assertions regarding the relationship between her service-connected PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder and her current conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- gastrointestinal condition (including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)), breast cancer residuals, esophageal conditions (including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux), gallbladder removal
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23011858
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 23011858.
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 missing records and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining any necessary records.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU is granted with an effective date of July 3, 2023. This decision is based on the liberalizing law from the PACT Act and the fact that all service-connected disabilities contributing to TDIU arose from a common etiology (toxic exposure risk activities).
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of June 24, 2019 for both a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The effective dates are tied due to the grant of TDIU.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for cholelithiasis with subsequent gallbladder removal is denied as she has not been shown to have moderate cholecystitis or mild symptoms resulting from the procedure.
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