The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis and constipation, is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's diagnosed gastrointestinal disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to address whether the pathophysiology of the Veteran's diverticulitis is inconclusive or conclusive, making the VA opinion partially inadequate.
- Claimed conditions
- diverticulitis, constipation
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24038242
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 A24038242.
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
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- Dismissed
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