The Veteran's tummy tuck scar is granted service connection, but her GERD and cesarean section are denied. The bilateral tubal ligation surgery resulted in permanent sterilization as the intended result, so she cannot be granted service connection for that procedure. Joint pain (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness) and seborrheic dermatitis have been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tummy tuck scar is a residual of her in-service abdominoplasty which was performed during active duty, meeting the criteria for service connection. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of GERD or another upper digestive system disability other than GERD. The bilateral tubal ligation surgery resulted in permanent sterilization as the intended result and cannot be granted service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- tummy tuck scar, GERD, cesarean section, bilateral tubal ligation surgery, joint pain (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness), seborrheic dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23065394
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 23065394.
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 decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion and a need for further examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted, and the appeal to restore a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc other than IVDS, central canal stenosis, and scoliosis prior to June 1, 2024 is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his accidental drowning death.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for GERD, effective May 31, 2019. The Veteran's GERD is currently manifested by infrequent episodes of epigastric distress and pyrosis.
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