The Veteran's GERD is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious features.,The Veteran's residuals of TBI are not currently diagnosed, but a new examination is needed to determine if such exists.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the claim for service connection for GERD as being related to the service-connected PTSD. However, there is insufficient rationale provided by the January 2023 VA examiner regarding why the Veteran's GERD is not secondary to her service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Seizure Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2024
- Citation
- 24012818
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 24012818.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD as it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for ED due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety is remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied service connection for left foot tendonitis. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis were rated in excess of 10 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's GERD, finding that his condition is productive of daily medications to control dysphagia and is otherwise asymptomatic.
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