The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, splenectomy as secondary to GERD, and left knee disability have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for GERD. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that the Veteran's GERD is etiologically related to long-term use of NSAIDs used to treat his service-connected right ankle sprain.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's splenectomy was caused by treatment of his service-connected GERD, as evidenced by a private medical opinion and post-service diagnosis.,The left knee disability is less likely than not related to service. The VA examiner noted no left knee condition was documented in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Left knee disability, Splenectomy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23054727
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 23054727.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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