The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and left knee condition due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is seeking presumptive service connection based on exposure to environmental hazards during his military service, but the PACT Act requires VA to provide a TERA examination and obtain an opinion regarding the nature of his gastrointestinal problems and left knee condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in not obtaining a TERA examination for the Veteran's gastrointestinal problems, as well as a VA examination for his left knee condition. The PACT Act requires such examinations to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2023
- Citation
- A23027762
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A23027762.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- 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.
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