The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and the need for an adequate VA examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service, but the VA Secretary determined there is no positive association between such exposure and gastrointestinal disorders.
The deciding factor: VA Secretary's determination that there is no positive association between herbicide agent exposure and gastrointestinal disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), Duodenal ulcer, Gastritis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2024
- Citation
- 24009391
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 24009391.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, GERD, and hypertension have been granted. The effective date for the service connection of GERD is January 1, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain examination reports and determine if the service-connected conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant.
- Denied
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as non-compensable prior to January 17, 2025, and as 10 percent disabling thereafter.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's original 60 percent rating for GERD with gastritis, finding that the reduction from January 2021 was improper due to lack of evidence showing improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions.
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